New Talent on Display at the Japanese Grand Prix

The challenging circuit of Suzuka played host to a trio of impressive rookie performances during the Japanese Grand Prix. While reigning world champion Max Verstappen clinched a well-deserved victory, three inexperienced drivers also made their mark. Here’s how each of them fared and what they had to say about their races.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli – A Confident Performance

After being awarded the Driver of the Day accolade at the Chinese Grand Prix, Antonelli might have questioned why he didn’t secure the most votes in Japan. The 18-year-old, who had never driven around Suzuka before, qualified alongside teammate George Russell in sixth place and finished in the same position, extending his run of three races and three points finishes. He also became the youngest driver to ever lead a grand prix and claim an F1 fastest lap. “Qualifying was a big click, because definitely I was able to feel the car and push it more,” Antonelli said. “I’m really looking forward to exploring even more in the next few weekends.

Isack Hadjar – A Maiden Top-10 Finish

Before the weekend, Hadjar wasn’t expected to attract much media attention on the Red Bull stable. However, he impressed with his best performance since entering F1, claiming his first top-10 finish comfortably. The Frenchman overcame a tight seatbelt issue during qualifying to eventually put his Racing Bull seventh on the grid, ahead of Lewis Hamilton. He ultimately lost out to the seven-time world champion in the race but still came home in eighth place to take four points and open his account for the year. “All we could have done today was P8 and we did it – I think it was a perfectly executed race,” Hadjar said.

Oliver Bearman – A Memorable Weekend

Bearman is no stranger to points-scoring in F1, with his 10th place in Japan marking the fourth time he’s taken a haul from six grands prix. This performance, however, was likely the most memorable given his strong overall weekend performance. Haas brought an untested floor upgrade to Suzuka and Bearman made it work much better than his experienced teammate Esteban Ocon. The British teenager finished the grand prix where he started it to take 10th place and the final point on offer. “Every weekend I’ve done so far has had a mistake somewhere, maybe not China,” Bearman said. “But this one, completing the full weekend without any bad points, good qualifying, good race, I’m happy with this one, and it’s a good baseline to improve from.