https://www.scmp.com/rss/523670/feed The latest news and top stories on Oscar Piastri, an Australian racing driver. He is known for his progression through junior categories, winning the Formula Renault Eurocup, FIA Formula 3 and FIA Formula 2 championships consecutively. Since joining McLaren in Formula One, he has demonstrated consistency and racecraft, securing his maiden Grand Prix victory in Hungary and contributing to McLaren’s Constructors’ Championship win. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Sumnima Kandangwa,Reuters Sumnima Kandangwa,Reuters Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli overcame a slow start to record ⁠his second straight win ⁠on Sunday at the Japanese ⁠Grand Prix in Suzuka, Japan. Antonelli, who recorded his maiden win two weeks ago in China, became the youngest-ever person to lead the drivers’ standings after finishing the race in 1 hour, 28 minutes and 3.403 seconds. “It’s been a big step,” said ⁠Antonelli, whose 72 points in the driver’s standings are nine more than teammate George ‌Russell. “Experience does a lot – obviously... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3348386/meet-f1-driver-kimi-antonelli-who-just-won-japanese-grand-prix-suzuka?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3348386/meet-f1-driver-kimi-antonelli-who-just-won-japanese-grand-prix-suzuka?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 10:00:21 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse ⁠Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli won the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday for his second straight victory as the 19-year-old Italian became the youngest driver in Formula 1 history to lead the world championship standings. Antonelli took advantage of a mid-race safety car to leapfrog into the lead after a dreadful start from pole position at Suzuka and eventually led home McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. He whooped with delight as he crossed the line, telling his team “the pace was... https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3348286/formula-1-mercedes-kimi-antonelli-overcomes-bad-start-win-japanese-grand-prix?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3348286/formula-1-mercedes-kimi-antonelli-overcomes-bad-start-win-japanese-grand-prix?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 07:10:44 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Kimi Antonelli took pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix ahead of teammate George Russell on Saturday as Mercedes tightened their stranglehold on the new Formula One season. The Silver Arrows have claimed one-two finishes at both grands prix so far this year and they were again ahead of the field in dry conditions in Suzuka. The 19-year-old Italian Antonelli became the youngest pole-sitter in F1 history two weeks ago in China and he made it two in a row with a fastest lap of one minute,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3348250/kimi-antonelli-claims-pole-position-japanese-grand-prix-ahead-teammate-george-russell?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3348250/kimi-antonelli-claims-pole-position-japanese-grand-prix-ahead-teammate-george-russell?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 10:30:07 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse McLaren’s Oscar Piastri powered to the fastest time in Friday’s second practice for the Japanese Grand Prix, usurping the dominant Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell. Piastri is yet to even start a grand prix this season but the Australian gave a reminder of his talent with a lap of one minute, 30.133 seconds in dry, sunny conditions at Suzuka. The 19-year-old Italian Antonelli, who won the first grand prix of his career in China two weeks ago, was second, 0.092 seconds behind... https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3348169/mclarens-oscar-piastri-outshines-mercedes-duo-go-fastest-japanese-grand-prix-practice?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3348169/mclarens-oscar-piastri-outshines-mercedes-duo-go-fastest-japanese-grand-prix-practice?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:30:20 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Max Verstappen said that the Japanese Grand Prix is one of his favourite races, but his chances of a fifth straight victory at the weekend look vanishingly slim as his Red Bull struggles with Formula One’s sweeping new regulations. Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will carry their early dominance into Suzuka, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton their nearest challengers. Red Bull and Verstappen are scrambling to recover from a disastrous start to the Formula One... https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3347815/max-verstappens-japanese-grand-prix-win-streak-under-threat-mercedes-dominate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3347815/max-verstappens-japanese-grand-prix-win-streak-under-threat-mercedes-dominate?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 06:05:45 +0000 Associated Press,Agence France-Presse Associated Press,Agence France-Presse An emotional Kimi Antonelli won a grand prix for the first time on Sunday, when he won the Chinese Grand Prix ahead of Mercedes teammate George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, who made his maiden podium for Ferrari. The 19-year-old Antonelli converted being the youngest pole-sitter in Formula 1 history into the second-youngest winner in a race that saw both McLarens dramatically fail to start in Shanghai. The only driver younger than Antonelli to win a grand prix was Max Verstappen, who was 18 when... https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3346653/mercedes-kimi-antonelli-wins-chinese-grand-prix-after-starting-pole-position?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3346653/mercedes-kimi-antonelli-wins-chinese-grand-prix-after-starting-pole-position?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 08:56:58 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The 19-year-old Italian Kimi Antonelli took pole position for the Chinese Grand Prix on Saturday, becoming the youngest driver to achieve the feat in Formula 1 history. Antonelli led a Mercedes front-row lockout along with George Russell and erased the record of Sebastian Vettel, who was 21 when he took pole for the Italian Grand Prix in 2008. “I’m happy with the lap I did,” Antonelli told reporters. “And really happy to be starting on pole for my first time.” The Mercedes duo, as in Australia... https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3346618/chinese-grand-prix-mercedes-kimi-antonelli-youngest-take-formula-1-pole-position?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3346618/chinese-grand-prix-mercedes-kimi-antonelli-youngest-take-formula-1-pole-position?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 14:30:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse George Russell won “a pretty fun” sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix on Saturday, as the Mercedes driver continued his early-season dominance by leading home both Ferraris to extend his world championship lead. Russell enjoyed a ding-dong battle in the opening laps with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, as the pair traded places at the front several times. Later he had to fend off the second Ferrari of Charles Leclerc after a late safety car, with the Monegasque driver coming home... https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3346578/formula-1-george-russell-wins-exciting-sprint-race-mercedes-chinese-grand-prix?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3346578/formula-1-george-russell-wins-exciting-sprint-race-mercedes-chinese-grand-prix?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 04:42:31 +0000 Reuters Reuters Formula 1 championship leader George Russell put Mercedes on pole position for the first sprint race of the season in China on Friday in a front-row lockout with teammate Kimi Antonelli. Russell led every ‌phase of the session at the Shanghai circuit to take his first career sprint pole in a time of one minute, 31.520 seconds. Antonelli was 0.289 slower. McLaren’s Lando Norris will start third after the reigning champion told stewards he had not been on a proper “push” ‌lap when Antonelli, who... https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3346497/formula-1-george-russell-puts-mercedes-pole-chinese-grand-prix-sprint-race?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3346497/formula-1-george-russell-puts-mercedes-pole-chinese-grand-prix-sprint-race?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 09:09:46 +0000 Reuters Reuters Ferrari have won nothing in Formula 1 since ⁠Lewis Hamilton’s Saturday sprint victory in Shanghai a year ago and this weekend’s return to China is a chance for both to close a circle. Ferrari, who last won a grand prix in 2024, were Mercedes’ closest rivals in the Australian season-opener last weekend, with Charles Leclerc third and Hamilton fourth behind the one-two of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. “For me, the prevailing feeling is now we have a ‌fight on our hands with Ferrari,” Toto... https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3346344/formula-1-chinese-grand-prix-hamilton-returns-scene-his-first-and-only-ferrari-win?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3346344/formula-1-chinese-grand-prix-hamilton-returns-scene-his-first-and-only-ferrari-win?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 13:00:09 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Formula One’s new era heads into its first sprint in Shanghai this weekend, with the Chinese Grand Prix promising a very different test from Melbourne, where George Russell led home a Mercedes one-two. The Silver Arrows dominated the season-opener, Russell winning from Kimi Antonelli and followed home by the Ferrari pair of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in the first race under sweeping new regulations. Lando Norris and McLaren struggled, the British world champion trailing home fifth and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3346195/chinese-grand-prix-shanghais-sprint-race-presents-huge-challenge-formula-1s-new-era?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3346195/chinese-grand-prix-shanghais-sprint-race-presents-huge-challenge-formula-1s-new-era?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 11:00:10 +0000 Reuters Reuters George Russell ⁠struck the first ⁠blow in the Formula ⁠One championship for Mercedes as he claimed an emphatic victory in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix ahead of teammate Kimi Antonelli and crushed an early challenge from Ferrari. Having ‌dominated qualifying, pole-sitter Russell’s first win at Albert Park underlined Mercedes’ promising pre-season form while giving the team their first Melbourne victory since Valtteri Bottas claimed the 2019 race. “Great job ‌everybody, it’s been a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3345857/formula-1-russell-and-mercedes-dominate-australian-grand-prix-crush-ferrari-challenge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3345857/formula-1-russell-and-mercedes-dominate-australian-grand-prix-crush-ferrari-challenge?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 05:53:41 +0000 Reuters Reuters George Russell took pole ⁠position and teammate Kimi Antonelli locked up the front row as Mercedes confirmed their off-season promise by dominating qualifying at Formula One’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix on Saturday. Briton Russell lapped Albert Park’s street circuit in one minute, 18.518 seconds, a mark that was 0.293 seconds ahead of Italian Antonelli, who came back from a huge crash in the ‌final free practice earlier in the day. Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar was third quickest but nearly... https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3345804/australian-grand-prix-mercedes-russell-antonelli-top-qualifying-verstappen-crashes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3345804/australian-grand-prix-mercedes-russell-antonelli-top-qualifying-verstappen-crashes?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 08:24:51 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The start of any Formula One season is a game of smoke and mirrors: this one, which gets under way in Melbourne on March 8, has the added intrigue of sweeping changes that could shake up the established order. For all the pre-season testing, the finger-pointing, the accusations of “sandbagging” and loopholes in the new regulations, the guessing games have left us nowhere closer to predicting how the 24-race 2026 season will pan out. Beyond the obvious, of course: the champion will come from one... https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3345423/new-rules-same-old-suspects-formula-1-season-set-be-among-most-intriguing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3345423/new-rules-same-old-suspects-formula-1-season-set-be-among-most-intriguing?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:00:12 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa After beating out Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri to claim the Formula One championship title at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 7, Lando Norris ran straight to his girlfriend Margarida Corceiro who was watching from the McLaren garage. The couple shared a sweet victory kiss as Norris embraced his 23-year-old model girlfriend before taking to the podium to celebrate his win. To fans of F1, Corceiro is a familiar face. The model has been in an on-again, off-again relationship with... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3335994/meet-formula-one-champion-lando-norris-girlfriend-portuguese-model-margarida-corceiro?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3335994/meet-formula-one-champion-lando-norris-girlfriend-portuguese-model-margarida-corceiro?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2025 10:00:12 +0000 Reuters Reuters Oscar Piastri was robbed of victory in Qatar but the Australian can take hope from history in his bid to become Formula One champion next weekend, according to McLaren boss Andrea Stella. The 24-year-old did everything right at the Lusail circuit, winning the Saturday sprint from pole position and leading Sunday’s race from pole until a team strategy blunder left him having to settle for second to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. The Australian said he was speechless with what had happened and McLaren... https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3334808/formula-1-mclaren-boss-assures-oscar-piastri-he-can-still-be-champion-despite-qatar-debacle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3334808/formula-1-mclaren-boss-assures-oscar-piastri-he-can-still-be-champion-despite-qatar-debacle?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Dec 2025 15:00:28 +0000 Reuters Reuters Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Saturday and roared back into the Formula One title battle after the shock disqualification of McLaren’s championship leader Lando Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri. Norris, who started on pole and finished second, and fourth-placed Piastri were ruled out for technical reasons linked to the under-car skid planks hours after the race had ended and the podium champagne sprayed. The development left Britain’s Norris 24 points clear of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3333832/formula-1-max-verstappen-wins-las-vegas-norris-second-title-fight-heading-qatar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3333832/formula-1-max-verstappen-wins-las-vegas-norris-second-title-fight-heading-qatar?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Nov 2025 06:02:12 +0000 Reuters Reuters Max Verstappen is making history with every race and could stage one of the most remarkable fightbacks Formula 1 has ever seen, according to two team bosses who have worked closely with the four-time world champion. The Dutch driver was 104 points behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri at the end of August and would have ridiculed anyone who seriously suggested he still had a chance of a fifth successive title. “I would have told him he was an idiot,” the driver told reporters on Sunday. After three... https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3329636/formula-1-max-verstappens-perfect-weekend-could-spark-unprecedented-title-triumph?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3329636/formula-1-max-verstappens-perfect-weekend-could-spark-unprecedented-title-triumph?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Oct 2025 05:52:49 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Max Verstappen maintained the pressure on McLaren and cut another chunk out of Oscar Piastri’s lead in this year’s world championship on Sunday when he cruised to a commanding triumph at the United States Grand Prix. In sizzling conditions, Red Bull’s four-time world champion led from pole position to chequered flag to come home 7.959 seconds clear of title-chasing Lando Norris, of McLaren, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finishing third, 4.041 adrift. Australian championship leader Oscar Piastri... https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3329600/us-grand-prix-verstappen-cruises-victory-cuts-chunk-out-f1-lead?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3329600/us-grand-prix-verstappen-cruises-victory-cuts-chunk-out-f1-lead?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Oct 2025 22:16:36 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Mercedes’ George Russell won the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday ahead of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, as McLaren clinched the Formula One constructors’ championship. Oscar Piastri was fourth, which meant his lead over his McLaren teammate Norris in the drivers’ standings was cut to 22 points. The 27 points scored by Piastri and Norris were more than enough for McLaren to equal the record set by Red Bull in 2023, by winning the team title with six races to spare. It was McLaren’s second title... https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3327930/f1-singapore-grand-prix-george-russell-wins-street-race-mclaren-seal-constructors-title?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3327930/f1-singapore-grand-prix-george-russell-wins-street-race-mclaren-seal-constructors-title?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Oct 2025 14:10:55 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Max Verstappen’s recent resurgence will be put to the test at the Singapore Grand Prix this week as the Red Bull driver tries to turn the Formula One world championship into a three-horse race. Back-to-back wins in Monza and Baku have left third-placed Verstappen 69 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri with seven grands prix and three sprints remaining. Lando Norris sits between the two, 25 points, or one race win, behind his McLaren teammate Piastri and 44 ahead of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3327496/singapore-grand-prix-max-verstappens-late-season-surge-faces-bloody-hot-test?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3327496/singapore-grand-prix-max-verstappens-late-season-surge-faces-bloody-hot-test?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Oct 2025 12:00:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The Formula 1 title race is heating up, and McLaren’s golden rule – “Let ’em race” – risks expanding into a whole rule book. Asking Oscar Piastri to give up second place to Lando Norris at the Italian Grand Prix because of a slow pit stop showed how McLaren’s seemingly simple approach risked being bogged down in debates about what is fair on track. The battle between Norris and Piastri will become McLaren’s sole focus if the team can wrap up the constructors’ title on Sunday at the Azerbaijan... https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3326188/formula-1-mclaren-heads-azerbaijan-grand-prix-verge-constructors-title?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3326188/formula-1-mclaren-heads-azerbaijan-grand-prix-verge-constructors-title?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Sep 2025 13:00:15 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse George Russell heads into his home British Grand Prix this weekend haunted by rumours and unconfirmed reports that fierce rival and four-time world champion Max Verstappen has accepted an offer to replace him next year. As Formula 1 returns to the circuit that hosted its first world championship race 75 years ago, the 27-year-old Briton may be caught on the horns of an extraordinary dilemma as he seeks a fifth career victory to secure his seat, and his future, with Mercedes. If he wins, and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3316833/f1-russell-plagued-rumours-rival-verstappen-replacing-him-ahead-home-gp?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3316833/f1-russell-plagued-rumours-rival-verstappen-replacing-him-ahead-home-gp?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Jul 2025 15:00:07 +0000