Drama at the start for Mercedes as Piastri blasts into the lead in Suzuka

The McLaren driver, who is yet to complete a racing lap in the 2026 campaign, surged ahead of both Mercedes drivers, Kimi Antonelli and George Russell.

Both Mercedes drivers, who had locked out the front row, found themselves ending the opening lap in fourth and fifth respectively.

Charles Leclerc climbed up to second from fourth, while Lando Norris also moved up to third place. Lewis Hamilton stayed in sixth, with Pierre Gasly in seventh, Lindblad in eighth, while Max Verstappen went ahead of his teammate Isack Hadjar to claim ninth place.

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