KIMI Antonelli bagged back-to-back poles, topping qualifying for Round 3 of the 2026 FIA Formula 1 World Championship at Suzuka with a pace-setting lap of 1:29.632.
Fresh off his breakthrough pole and win in China, the 19-year-old Italian continued his surge, leading a Mercedes front-row lockout with George Russell (+0.298) in second, the team’s first in Suzuka since 2018.
It also marked the 17th time in 36 editions of the Japanese Grand Prix that teammates will start from the front row.
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“Super happy with the session. It was a good one, a clean one. I felt very good in the car and every run I was just improving and improving,” Antonelli said.
“It was a shame for the last lap because I had a lock-up in Turn 11, but it was a good one as well. Really happy with the session and now we'll focus on tomorrow.”
Oscar Piastri led McLaren’s charge in third (+0.354), alongside Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc (+0.627), who lost a potential pole after a costly error in the second sector.
Despite ongoing power unit issues, Lando Norris salvaged fifth, edging Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton in sixth.
Pierre Gasly (Alpine), Isack Hadjar (Red Bull), Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi), and Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) rounded out the top 10, with the latter stunningly knocking out Max Verstappen in Q2.
Shock early exits
Haas' Ollie Bearman headlined the Q1 eliminations, joined by Williams’ Alex Albon, both Cadillacs, and both Aston Martins.
In Q2, Lindblad’s late flyer dumped Verstappen out of the top-10 shootout, ending the Dutchman’s streak of four straight poles in Suzuka as he described his car as “completely undriveable.”
Also falling short of Q3 were Esteban Ocon, Nico Hulkenberg, Liam Lawson, Franco Colapinto, and Carlos Sainz, who at least made it past Q1 for the first time this season.
Antonelli set the tone early in Q3 and held firm despite a minor lock-up on his final run, which still proved enough for pole.
Leclerc briefly threatened with a fastest first sector, but a moment of understeer in Sector 2 ultimately left him three tenths off the pace.
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