Last Updated:
Kimi Antonelli takes Japanese Grand Prix pole ahead of George Russell as Mercedes dominate new Formula One season, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris behind.
Formula One: Kimi Antonelli took pole for Japanese Grand Prix (AP)
Kimi Antonelli claimed pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix ahead of team-mate George Russell on Saturday, as Mercedes tightened their stranglehold on the new Formula One season.
Antonelli celebrated the 50th pole for an Italian driver, and his second in a row, as the Mercedes team locked out the front row for the third time in three races.
Formula One: Japanese Grand Prix – Starting Grid
| Position | Driver | Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:30.035 | 1:29.048 | 1:28.778 | 15 |
| 2 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:29.967 | 1:29.686 | 1:29.076 | 21 |
| 3 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:30.200 | 1:29.451 | 1:29.132 | 20 |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:29.915 | 1:29.303 | 1:29.405 | 18 |
| 5 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:30.401 | 1:29.795 | 1:29.409 | 20 |
| 6 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:30.309 | 1:29.589 | 1:29.567 | 20 |
| 7 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 1:30.584 | 1:29.874 | 1:29.691 | 18 |
| 8 | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull Racing | 1:30.662 | 1:30.104 | 1:29.978 | 17 |
| 9 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi | 1:30.359 | 1:29.990 | 1:30.274 | 20 |
| 10 | Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls | 1:30.781 | 1:30.109 | 1:30.319 | 21 |
| 11 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | 1:30.519 | 1:30.262 | – | 12 |
| 12 | Esteban Ocon | Haas F1 Team | 1:30.915 | 1:30.309 | – | 15 |
| 13 | Nico Hulkenberg | Audi | 1:30.358 | 1:30.387 | – | 14 |
| 14 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 1:30.657 | 1:30.495 | – | 15 |
| 15 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | 1:30.931 | 1:30.627 | – | 12 |
| 16 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | 1:30.927 | 1:31.033 | – | 15 |
| 17 | Alexander Albon | Williams | 1:31.088 | – | – | 9 |
| 18 | Oliver Bearman | Haas F1 Team | 1:31.090 | – | – | 9 |
| 19 | Sergio Perez | Cadillac | 1:32.206 | – | – | 6 |
| 20 | Valtteri Bottas | Cadillac | 1:32.330 | – | – | 9 |
| 21 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:32.646 | – | – | 9 |
| 22 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:32.920 | – | – | 9 |
The Silver Arrows have taken one-two finishes at both grands prix so far this year, and they were again ahead of the field in dry conditions at Suzuka.
Nineteen-year-old Italian Andrea Kimi Antonelli became the youngest pole-sitter in F1 history two weeks ago in China, and he made it two in a row with a fastest lap of 1min 28.778sec.
Early championship leader George Russell was second, 0.298sec behind, with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri third and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc fourth.
“Super-happy with the session, it was a good one, it was a clean one,” said Antonelli, who won in Shanghai for his maiden grand prix victory.
“I felt very good in the car and every run was improving.”
Russell said he had been struggling with his car for most of qualifying but still had enough pace to secure a front-row start.
“We were both really fast all weekend, we made some adjustments and then at the beginning of qualifying we were nowhere,” said the Briton.
“Race is tomorrow and still a lot to play for.”
McLaren’s world champion Lando Norris was fifth, followed by Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly.
Defending Champion Will Start In 11th And Not On Pole First Time Since 2019
Max Verstappenwho has won the Japanese Grand Prix for the past four years, dropped out in Q2 and will start 11th on the grid.
Red Bull’s Verstappen, a four-time world champion, took pole last year with a track-record lap.
Verstappen, who crashed out in Q3 at the season-opener in Australia, said his car was “completely undriveable”.
“The car never turns mid-corner and we oversteer a lot on entries,” the Dutchman said.
“It is really difficult, unpredictable.”
Esteban Ocon of Haas, Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg, RB’s Liam Lawson, Alpine’s Franco Colapinto and Williams’ Carlos Sainz also went out in Q2.
Haas driver Ollie Bearman was a shock casualty in Q3 after he finished fifth at the Chinese Grand Prix.
Cadillac pair Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas were eliminated with him, as were Williams’ Alex Albon and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.
The Aston Martin duo, who have yet to complete a grand prix this season as they struggle with extreme vibration, finished bottom of the timesheets.
(With inputs from Agencies)
March 28, 2026, 12:45 IST
Read More
Source link
[ad_3]
