Antonelli looking to ‘raise game’ on race starts

Kimi Antonelli secured a dominant victory at the Japanese Grand Prix, despite a difficult start that saw him lose five positions on the opening lap. While he expressed frustration with his race launch, the Mercedes driver showcased exceptional pace to recover, eventually benefiting from a well-timed Safety Car period to take the win by over 13 seconds ahead of Oscar Piastri. Leading the Drivers' Standings with 72 points, Antonelli acknowledged that while he is happy with the car's performance, he must focus on improving his race starts during the upcoming four-week break. His teammate, George Russell, faced a challenging weekend, failing to secure a podium finish as Antonelli continues to establish himself at the front of the field.