Antonelli storms to back-to-back poles at Suzuka as Mercedes dominate Japanese GP qualifying

Suzuka, Japan, March 28, 2026: 2026 FIA Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix delivered high drama and a clear statement of intent from Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, as teenage sensation Kimi Antonelli clinched his second consecutive pole position of the 2026 season with a commanding performance at Suzuka Circuit.

The Italian rookie continued his meteoric rise by outpacing team-mate George Russell by 0.298s, underlining Mercedes’ one-lap dominance. Antonelli’s blistering lap of 1:28.778 proved untouchable despite late pressure, marking another milestone just one race after his maiden Formula 1 victory in China.

Qualifying initially hinted at a different narrative, with Scuderia Ferrari and Charles Leclerc leading the way in Q1. However, as track evolution kicked in, the balance shifted decisively. Antonelli seized control in Q2, edging Leclerc by two tenths before stretching his advantage in the pole shootout.

In Q3, Antonelli pushed to the absolute limit, delivering a near-perfect lap. Russell briefly threatened during the final runs, going quickest in the opening sector, but both Mercedes drivers lost time later in the lap—leaving Antonelli firmly on top.

Behind the silver arrows, McLaren F1 Team’s Oscar Piastri produced a standout performance to secure P3, just 0.354s off pole. After a disrupted start to the season with DNS results in Melbourne and Shanghai, the Australian finally put his campaign on track.

Leclerc had to settle for fourth after a dramatic moment through the iconic 130R corner on his final lap, while team-mate Lando Norris completed the top five for McLaren.

Further down the order, Lewis Hamilton claimed sixth for Ferrari ahead of Pierre Gasly, while Red Bull’s rookie Isack Hadjar impressed with P8. Gabriel Bortoleto and Arvid Lindblad rounded out the top ten.

One of the biggest shocks came in Q2, where reigning world champion Max Verstappen failed to progress. Struggling with persistent balance issues throughout the session, Verstappen appeared to have done enough to scrape into Q3 before Lindblad’s late improvement knocked him out.

The elimination zones saw a mix of experienced names and rookies fall early. Alexander Albon was the first driver eliminated in Q1, followed by Oliver Bearman, Sergio Pérez, Valtteri Bottas, and Aston Martin duo Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.