Five things we learned from the Japanese Grand Prix

Optiminal sweeps the board

At the start of the season, many experts were certain that Razor GP would dominate the team standings. The team was at the top from the very first race – and after the Spanish Grand Prix, it even had a comfortable lead of 41 points.

But then the story took a surprising turn. Since the French Grand Prix, Optiminal Esports has really stepped up its game and scored a whopping 186 points, while Razor only managed 107 – an impressive difference of 79 points.

Ahead of the season finale, one thing is certain: the team championship has been decided – in favour of Optiminal Esports. With a 38-point lead and only 27 points left to play for, the Dutch team has clinched the championship ahead of schedule. A well-deserved triumph after a second half of the season that was almost unbeatable in terms of dominance.

Bastian Paisler versus Heiko Kolvenbach – A clash escalates

Bastian Paisler and Heiko Kolvenbach caused the biggest stir at the Japanese Grand Prix. Two hard-nosed drivers, both known for their uncompromising style – and this time pushing the limits of what is allowed.

In the final stages of the race, the two rivals collided while braking for the last chicane. Both lost their front wings and had to pit. This led to another incident: Kolvenbach carelessly drove back onto the track, where SVL driver Sander van Leeuwen was unable to avoid him. The Cologne native apologised immediately, but a penalty is still likely to follow.

However, who was actually responsible for the crash remains controversial. Some in the paddock accuse Kolvenbach of reacting too late, while others blame Paisler, who allegedly braked unusually early. The fact is that the relationship between the two is tense, and the last word in this duel has certainly not yet been spoken.

Moelling and Mancini – Two rookies turn up the pace

Robin Moelling and Mirco Mancini were the positive surprises of the Japanese Grand Prix.

Moelling, who had already attracted attention with his strong pace in recent races, continued his upward trend and secured his first podium finish in his fourth VFC race – a well-deserved milestone.

Even more spectacular was the performance of Mirco Mancini. The Italian was signed by Simspark Racing at short notice as a replacement for Benjamin Reinhardt and caused a stir in qualifying by finishing third. He drove calmly and flawlessly in the race – finishing fifth in his first VFC start!

While Moelling is rumoured to be moving to a newcomer team in 2026 alongside his friend Daniel Scott, Mancini's future is still open. However, after this performance, the Italian is likely to be one of the hottest properties on the driver market.

Stefan Schubert – The unsung hero

One of the most remarkable stories of the weekend was written by Stefan Schubert. The veteran driver struggled with severe back problems in the run-up to the race, which actually forced him to give up on race day. Shortly before the start, he declared that the pain was too great to drive – and then got into the cockpit anyway.

Schubert finished the race in great pain. Only a late drive-through penalty prevented him from scoring points. After the race, the Swabian could only get out of the rig with help – that's how severe the pain was.

Even though he usually races at the back of the field, this effort deserves the utmost respect. At a time when the last per cent is often missing, Schubert showed what true racing spirit means.

Degner 1 – the final boss of the former teammates

Degner 1 in Suzuka is considered one of the most iconic and difficult corners on the entire calendar – and it proved fatal for two former teammates.

Both Fabian Walter and Jan Wiegels, who once raced together for Horizon Motorsport, skidded off the track in almost identical fashion at Degner 1 – both ending up in the wall. This was particularly bitter for Wiegels, who was on course for a podium finish at the time.

Although this double retirement did not have a decisive impact on the title fight, it once again showed that Suzuka does not forgive mistakes – and Degner 1 certainly doesn't.