Kimi Antonelli claimed pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix with a commanding lap at Suzuka, securing a front-row lockout for Mercedes ahead of teammate George Russell. The 19-year-old’s time of 1:28.778 put him 0.298 seconds clear of Russell, marking his second straight pole after victory in China two weeks ago.
Qualifying unfolded under clear skies at the demanding 5.8-kilometer Suzuka Circuit, where Mercedes demonstrated unmatched pace across the weekend. Antonelli set the benchmark in Q3 on his opening run, a lap that Russell could not match despite pushing hard in the final sector. Earlier sessions foreshadowed Mercedes’ dominance: Russell topped FP1 with a 1:31.666, Antonelli led FP3 on a 1:29.362, and the pair filled the top two spots consistently.
Oscar Piastri took third for McLaren in 1:29.132, just ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in fourth at 1:29.405. Lando Norris, the reigning world champion, rounded out the top five in the second McLaren, followed by Lewis Hamilton in the other Ferrari. The session highlighted Mercedes’ edge in single-lap speed, with Antonelli’s effort standing out amid new 2026 regulations that limit energy deployment, causing visible speed drops through high-speed sections like 130R.
Notable struggles marked the afternoon for others. Reigning champion Max Verstappen, in the Red Bull, exited in Q2 to start 11th with a 1:30.262, hampered by balance issues. Pierre Gasly held seventh for Alpine, while Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto made Q3 in ninth. At the rear, Cadillac duo Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas lined up 19th and 20th, with Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll propping up the grid.
Mercedes’ display caps a strong practice buildup, where they topped three of four sessions despite McLaren showing promise in FP2 behind Piastri. Antonelli’s back-to-back poles underline his rapid rise, building on his China triumph, while Russell’s consistency keeps him atop the drivers’ standings. For the title fight, this positions Mercedes ideally entering Sunday’s race, pressuring McLaren and Ferrari in a tight early-season battle. The front-row advantage at Suzuka, with its overtaking challenges, could prove decisive in the championship chase.
Kimi Antonelli secures the @pirellisport Pole Position Lap in Japan! 😮💨
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 28, 2026
Let's ride onboard with the Mercedes driver for his lap of the iconic Suzuka 🤩👇#F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/OjprLk00PE
