Japanese Grand Prix 2026: Oscar Piastri puts horror run behind him

Australian Formula One star Oscar Piastri reignited the nation’s world title hopes with a brilliant drive to claim his first podium of the new season when he finished second in Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix.

After failing to make it to the start of the opening two rounds in Melbourne and Shanghai, the Australian finally showed what he could do when his unreliable McLaren car behaved itself.

Very unlucky not to win the race, Piastri finished runner-up behind Italian sensation Kimi Antonelli, who became the first teenager to ever win back-to-back Grand Prix. In another historic first, the weekend victory in Suzuka has Antonelli leading the Formula One world championship scoreboard, after leapfrogging* his Mercedes teammate George Russell in the standings. Russell finished the race fourth, with Charles Leclerc holding on for third spot for Ferrari.

Antonelli got a massive break that turned his fortunes around after a sloppy start from pole position* that dropped him back to sixth place.

The 19-year-old had improved to third when Piastri and Russell went into the pits to swap their medium tyres for harder compounds when backmarker* Oliver Bearman crashed his Haas.

That brought out a safety car, which allowed Antonelli to take a cheap pit stop and return to the circuit in the lead, where he was never challenged once they restarted.

Despite his wretched luck, Piastri drove a great race to hold for second and claim his first podium in 2026 and the 27th of his career, the fourth most of any Australian F1 driver behind Mark Webber (42), Daniel Ricciardo (32) and Jack Brabham (31).

Starting third on the grid, Piastri made a flying getaway when the lights went out, overtaking both Mercedes to snatch the lead. Russell briefly got his nose in front on lap nine but Piastri regained his advantage and looked comfortable before the safety car changed things.

Still, it was an encouraging day for McLaren, with Piastri’s English teammate Lando Norris also making it to the end to finish fifth.

Following the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grand Prix because of the Middle East conflict, there is now a five week break until the next race in Miami, where McLaren is due to unveil an upgrade which should make them even more competitive for the rest of the season.

Kimi Antonelli admitted he got lucky with the timing of the safety car.

“It feels pretty good!” he said.

“Of course, it’s too early to think about the championship but we are on a good way.

“I had a terrible start. I need to check what happened. Then I was lucky with the safety car to be in the lead but then the pace was incredible.

“It was really nice. The second stint I felt very good with the car. I’m very pleased with that.”

Despite missing out with the safety car, Oscar Piastri was pleased with second.

“It would have been really interesting to see what would have happened without that,” he said.

“I could keep George behind and just before the stops we were actually pulling away a little bit again.

“A shame that we never got to see what would happened but I think for us at this point to be disappointed about finishing second is a pretty good place to be.”

Piastri’s second place currently has him sitting sixth overall.

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GLOSSARY

• leapfrogging: a children’s game in which each player in turn leaps over the others’ bent back, it is also used figuratively to describe jumping ahead of someone
• pole position: the starting position on the inside of the front row that’s considered the best
• backmarker: a competitor who is at the back of the field in a race

EXTRA READING

Teenager wins Chinese Grand Prix

Piastri’s tragedy on the track

From go-karting kid to F1 crown

QUICK QUIZ

1. Which driver currently leads the championship standings?
2. Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli made history by winning the Grand Prix in Japan – what is unusual about him?
3. How many weeks do the drivers, their teams and fans have to wait until the next Grand Prix in Miami?
4. Which two races were cancelled this year and why?
5. Oscar Piastri was back on the podium in second place and Antonelli capitalised on what advantage?

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CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. McLaren upgrades
Formula One cars driven to the max rely on a lot of engineering and mechanics to keep them in such a fast-paced, high-powered environment.

McLaren have had some mechanical problems the last few Grands Prix competitions, meaning Oscar Piastri could not race.

In the next five week break from racing, McLaren is due to release an upgrade to their car. Work with a partner and discuss what this upgrade could entail.

Sketch your design and write a paragraph explaining the McLaren upgrade to be released at the Miami Grand Prix.

Time: allow 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Design and Technologies, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

2. Extension
How did the timing of the safety car assist Antonelli to win the Japanese Grand Prix?

How do drivers decide when to go to the pits for tyre changes etc when the safety car could appear at any time?

Time: allow 10 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Science, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

VCOP ACTIVITY
Australia’s F1 hero
Oscar Piastri has had an awful start to the 2026 Formula One season – but he has shown great composure, resilience and sportsmanship despite his disappointment. Write a letter to Oscar about the qualities and achievements you most admire, whether they are to do with his driving, his role representing his country or his character. Your letter can be anonymous or you can personally sign it off.

Remember when writing a letter:

Start with a greeting: Dear Oscar,

Then on a new line, write the body of the letter.

Finish with a closing: Kind regards,

And finally, sign the letter.

Try to include detail and emotion in the letter to connect with your target audience: Australia’s F1 hero.