Two questions present themselves in the wake of Kimi Antonelli’s second consecutive Grand Prix victory, after a superb performance in his Mercedes around Suzuka.
Firstly, could he have won even without the Safety Car that sprung him ahead of Oscar Piastri, George Russell and Charles Leclerc? All three had been ahead of the Italian but pitted before the Safety Car was deployed for Ollie Bearman’s accident, while Antonelli got the time-cheap stop under the Safety Car.
Secondly, what was the thinking behind Mercedes pitting Russell at the end of Lap 21, which in hindsight was disastrous timing?