F1: Chequered Flag Japanese GP Review: Could Verstappen Leave F1?
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Mar 29, 2026 
Kimi Antonelli, young Mercedes race winner at Suzuka, reflects on starts and team support. Damon Hill, 1996 world champion, offers veteran perspective on drivers, motivation and regulations. They discuss Antonelli’s Japan victory, Verstappen saying he is not enjoying F1 and thinking about his future, debates over the regs, overtaking and qualifying, plus safety and team development during the break.
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Antonelli's Win Was Luck Plus Genuine Pace
- Kimi Antonelli benefited from a safety car but also showed strong pace, stretching his lead to over 14 seconds when in clean air.
- Mercedes' race management and quick development have helped Antonelli mature from a crash in FP1 to back-to-back wins.
Use The Break To Fix Small Flaws Deliberately
- Use the five-week break to analyse weaknesses and make targeted improvements rather than panic.
- Antonelli himself said the gap offers time to review starts and small details that can change race outcomes.
Verstappen Considering F1 Exit Over New Driving Style
- Max Verstappen is seriously considering leaving F1 because he no longer enjoys the way the cars must be driven under current regulations.
- He says the sport feels "anti-driving" with battery management and regen forcing unnatural lift-and-coast tactics rather than pure racing.