Kimi Antonelli stormed to his second consecutive pole position at the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix as Max Verstappen endured one of the most dramatic qualifying exits of his career.
Antonelli delivered a lap time of 1:28.778 to beat Mercedes teammate George Russell by 0.298 seconds, building on the momentum he picked up with his maiden victory in China two weeks ago.
Qualifying kicked off with Q1 as teams ventured out on soft tires to post benchmark times on the 5.807-kilometer circuit, known for its figure-eight configuration that tests car balance through fast left-right sequences and long straights demanding optimal aerodynamic setups.
McLaren struck first with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris setting competitive early paces but Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc quickly asserted dominance with a 1:30.078, shading Russell by four-tenths as Antonelli followed in third.
Williams’ Carlos Sainz scraped through to Q2 but teammate Alex Albon fell just below the elimination drop zone along with Haas’ Oliver Bearman, Cadillac’s Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.
Verstappen suffers Q2 exit
Transitioning seamlessly into Q2, the pressure ratcheted up as drivers aimed to crack the top 10 for Q3 with track evolution providing a half-second grip boost from cleaner lines and warming asphalt.
Mercedes solidified their front-running form, Antonelli dipping into the sub 1:29s trailed by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, while McLaren’s Piastri edged Norris in sector two’s flowing Esses, showcasing superior traction out of the hairpin.
Lewis Hamilton posted respectable but not spectacular sectors, his experience shining in 130R but compromised by a Ferrari setup favoring race pace over one-lap sharpness, landing him provisionally sixth.
Red Bull’s woes crystallized here as Max Verstappen grappled with an “undriveable” car per his radio pleas, sliding wide at Spoon and losing chunks in the final sector to teammate Isack Hadjar who nursed his RB22 through to Q3.
Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad ultimately delivered the shock Verstappen Q2 ouster after edging him by just 0.041s to steal 10th, marking the end his Suzuka pole streak dating back four years.
The Dutchman was eliminalted alongside Haas’ Esteban Ocon, Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg, Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson, Alpine’s Franco Colapinto and Williams’ Carlos Sainz.
Antonelli reigns supreme in Q3
Returning to the circuit under a marginally quicker track‑temperature window, Kimi Antonelli slotted in at the front of the queue, choosing a slightly different out‑lap rhythm from Russell to avoid any potential traffic snarl at the final turn.
Antonelli’s first run saw him complete a lap of 1:28.778, a time that immediately towered over the rest of the field, leaving the faintest of gaps for anyone else to threaten pole. George Russell responded with a similar flyer but fell short by 0.298 seconds ultimately taking second.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri slotted in behind, three-and-a-half tenths down on Antonelli’s time, while Lando Norris went fourth in the second MCL40.
The opening minutes of Q3 suggested it would be McLaren, not Ferrari, who would be the closest rivals to Mercedes’ pace, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton only managing fifth and sixth after the first laps.
Isack Hadjar was seventh, over half a second off Hamilton, as the Red Bull driver was well off the pace of the leading three teams.
Alpine’s Pierre Gasly took eighth ahead of Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto, while Lindblad had his first timed lap deleted for exceeding track limits in his Racing Bulls car.
READ MORE:
Full 2026 F1 Japanese Grand Prix Qualifying Results and starting grid
Kimi Antonelli paces final Japanese GP practice in Mercedes 1-2, Mclaren hits trouble
