Antonelli beats Russell to take Japanese GP pole position
Italian Formula 1 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli of team Mercedes in action during practice session one ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka Grand Prix Circuit. George Hitchens/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Kimi Antonelli led a Mercedes one-two ahead of team-mate George Russell to claim pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix on Saturday. Antonelli clocked 1 minute 28.
778 seconds, beating Russell by 0. 298 seconds. McLaren's Oscar Piastri completed the top three, 0.
354 seconds behind the leader. This is the second consecutive pole for the Italian, who also qualified on the top spot ahead of his win at the Chinese GP two weeks ago. He locked up in a shabby final qualifying lap, leaving the door open to Russell.
But the British driver also had a messy lap himself and stayed second. Charles Leclerc of Ferrari had the fastest first sector and looked like he could beat Antonelli's time, but lost all that time with a scrappy second sector to only finish fourth. Title holder Lando Norris was fifth, Lewis Hamilton in the second Ferrari was sixth and Max Verstappen of Red Bull was only 11th after being eliminated in Q2.
The Japanese Grand Prix is on Sunday. Italian For mula 1 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli of team Mercedes in action during practice session one ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka Grand Prix Circuit. George Hitchens/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa