Five Things We Learned from the Japanese Grand Prix

Suzuka delivered – and in spectacular fashion.

What was expected to be a classic strategy race turned into one of the most chaotic and entertaining Grands Prix in recent VFC history. Surprise winners, missed opportunities, and countless incidents shaped a race that will be remembered for a long time.

Chris Gitsov – A First-Time VFC Winner

On Sunday, the VFC witnessed one of the biggest surprises in its history:Chris Gitsov claimed his first-ever VFC victory in Suzuka.

The Italo-Bulgarian driver, whose previous best result had been an eighth place, seized his opportunity perfectly. Coming into the weekend, Rookie Monsters were already considered outside contenders thanks to their fresh engine – but few expected them to fight for victory.

Gitsov stayed clear of trouble for most of the race, keeping a calm and controlled approach while chaos unfolded around him. The final Safety Car played directly into his hands, promoting him into third place and putting him right into the fight with Sven Schubert and Tom Oldenmenger.

After the restart, both Gitsov and Oldenmenger quickly passed Schubert. With just three laps remaining, Gitsov closed the gap to the Dutchman and executed the decisive overtake.

From there, he held on under pressure and crossed the line in first place.Scenes of pure celebration followed in the Rookie Monsters garage, with reports suggesting the celebrations lasted well into the early morning hours. Reports confirmed, Gitsov was found in the early morning hours laying next to his "Buran"

Robin Moelling – From Hero to Heartbreak

While his teammate celebrated, Robin Moelling experienced one of the most frustrating races of his career.

The German had dominated qualifying, securing his first-ever pole position in commanding fashion. Everything pointed towards a race win.

However, the race unraveled quickly. At the start, Moelling lost the lead to Tom Oldenmenger. During the early Safety Car phase on Lap 6, the leading trio – Oldenmenger, Moelling, and Schubert – all pitted, with Moelling losing another position to Schubert in the process.

What followed was chaos in traffic. Moelling became involved in a collision between Oldenmenger and Rouven Meschede, hitting Meschede and triggering a spectacular rollover. The incident left Moelling with a damaged front wing.

Shortly after, another collision followed – this time with Alex Woitala, caused by a highly questionable rejoin from the Seawolf driver. Both drivers were forced to retire.

After the race, Moelling also faced criticism for allegedly parking his car deliberately to trigger a Safety Car. He explained that due to his seating position, he could not see the front wheels and initially believed he had only lost the front wing. Footage later supported his explanation.

In the end: zero points, despite having the pace to win the race.

Schubert, Hauck and van Leeuwen – The Safety Car Losers

Before the final Safety Car, the race was shaping up for an unexpected podium: Sven Schubert ahead of Tim Hauck and Sander van Leeuwen.

For Hauck and van Leeuwen, it would have been their first VFC podium.

However, the Safety Car completely reshuffled the race. Strategies were neutralised, gaps erased, and the field compressed.

Hauck managed to salvage P4, which was still enough to move him into third place in the championship standings. Van Leeuwen, however, dropped back to P9 after a collision with Michael Falkenhain.

Blue Horns Racing – A Missed Opportunity

Blue Horns Racing approached Suzuka with the same strategy as Rookie Monsters: a fresh engine and maximum attack.

But while Rookie Monsters capitalised, Blue Horns failed to convert their advantage.

Both drivers missed out on Q2, and Tim Brendel’s race ended after just a few metres.Jörn Dicks attempted an alternative strategy and even led laps at one stage, but ultimately finished only sixth.

Given the performance of Rookie Monsters – a team considered weaker on paper – this result raises serious questions.

Suzuka 2026 – The Chaos Race of the Season

Many expected Montreal to deliver the traditional chaos race – but Suzuka took that role early in the season.

The drama began even before the race start.During the formation lap, Stefan Cerne ran into James Andrews, ending his race before it even began. The Brit was furious afterwards, while Cerne quickly disappeared from the scene.

At the start, things escalated further.Fabian Szyrzik stalled his car, triggering a chain reaction. Multiple drivers were taken out, including Heiko Kolvenbach, Tim Brendel, Daniel Scott, and Szyrzik himself – a major blow in the title fight.

As the race progressed, incidents continued to pile up.Rouven Meschede was eliminated after contact with Jörn Dicks, while several others – including Falcon drivers and Mirco Mancini – retired due to collisions or mistakes.

In total, only twelve drivers reached the finish.Notably, Stefan Schubert survived the chaos to claim two points, while Louis Roehn secured the first-ever point for Seawolf NetRace Motorsport.

The quality of some battles was questionable – but the spectacle was undeniable.

Suzuka delivered chaos, drama, and unforgettable moments.And it reminded everyone: this circuit punishes even the smallest mistakes.