US EditionAntonelli on Pole in Japan as Mercedes Lock Out Front Row
Andrea Kimi Antonelli claimed his second pole in a row with a 0.298-second lead, while Max Verstappen failed to reach Q3 due to balance problems in qualifying.
- On Saturday, Andrea Kimi Antonelli secured pole position for the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, leading a Mercedes front-row lockout with George Russell qualifying second, 0.298 seconds behind.
- Buoyed by his recent victory in Shanghai, the 19-year-old Antonelli earned his second consecutive pole, while Russell struggled with his car's handling throughout the session.
- Oscar Piastri emerged as the lead challenger for McLaren, grabbing third place ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, as Lando Norris followed in fifth, just four-thousandths of a second behind.
- Max Verstappen laboured to 11th in a rare Q2 elimination, claiming his Red Bull was "completely undriveable" through the high-speed corners of Suzuka.
- Sunday's race at the legendary Suzuka Circuit follows this major shake-up, with rookie Isack Hadjar securing eighth for Red Bull and Gabriel Bortoleto reaching the top 10 for Audi.
111 Articles
111 Articles
Japanese Grand Prix GRID after ALL driver penalties
Kimi Antonelli took pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix ahead of Mercedes team-mate George Russell on Saturday as Max Verstappen suffered another qualifying nightmare. The race is due to start on Sunday at 07:00 (SA time). Flying start to the season Mercedes have claimed one-two finishes at both grands prix so far in a flying start to the Formula One season and they were again dominant in dry conditions at Suzuka. The 19-year-old Italian A…
At the Grand Prix (GP) of Japan in Formula 1 (F1) 2026, which will take place this Sunday at 2 a.m. (Argentine time) on the Circuit of Suzuka, Andrea ‘Kimi’ Antonelli (Mercedes) will start in the first place on the grill. The Italian will start the race in front of his teammate, British George Russell, leader of the drivers’ championship, while the Argentine Franco Colapinto will do it in the 15th place. In the classification, as at each start o…
Antonelli leads Mercedes 1-2 at Japanese GP
Kimi Antonelli took pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix ahead of Mercedes team-mate George Russell on Saturday as Max Verstappen suffered another qualifying nightmare. Mercedes have claimed one-two finishes at both grands prix so far in a flying start to the Formula One season and they were again dominant in dry conditions at Suzuka. The 19-year-old Italian Antonelli became the youngest pole-sitter in F1 history two weeks ago in China and …
Antonelli claims pole position at Japanese Grand Prix ahead of teammate Russell
Kimi Antonelli took pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix ahead of teammate George Russell on Saturday as Mercedes tightened their stranglehold on the new Formula One season. The Silver Arrows have claimed one-two finishes at both grands prix so far this year and they were again ahead of the field in dry conditions in Suzuka. The 19-year-old Italian Antonelli became the youngest pole-sitter in F1 history two weeks ago in China and he made it…
Mercedes' driver Kimi Antonelli will start with the first position in the next round of Formula 1 for Japan's Great Prize, since he was the fastest in qualifications.
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