Kimi Antonelli clinches pole position at Japanese Grand Prix

"Top drivers aim to capitalize on Mercedes’ narrow advantage"

Kimi Antonelli secured pole position for the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, narrowly beating his Mercedes teammate George Russell. Antonelli set the fastest lap of 1:28.778, edging Russell by 0.298 seconds to top the grid for Sunday’s race.

Mercedes locked out the front row, continuing their strong form this season. Oscar Piastri in the McLaren qualified third, while Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari took fourth on the grid. Antonelli comes into the race after his maiden Grand Prix victory in China and is now close to Russell in the championship standings.

Meanwhile, four-time Suzuka winner Max Verstappen struggled in qualifying and ended up in 11th place due to handling issues, missing the top-10 shootout. Other drivers, including Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton, will also look to challenge Mercedes during the race.

Antonelli’s pole sets the stage for an exciting Japanese Grand Prix, with Mercedes aiming to maintain their dominance and other top drivers looking to challenge on the Suzuka circuit. Fans can expect a thrilling battle for victory this weekend.