F1 Japanese GP qualifying: Andrea Kimi Antonelli secures pole ahead of George Russell. Andrea Kimi Antonelli dominates Japanese GP qualifying with pole position at Suzuka..

The Japanese Grand Prix qualifying at Suzuka delivered high drama, stunning performances, and unexpected disappointments, as Andrea Kimi Antonelli continued his remarkable run of form. The young Italian driver clinched his second consecutive pole position, following his triumph in China, while Mercedes demonstrated their ongoing dominance in the sprint to the front row.

Antonelli leads a Mercedes one-two in Suzuka qualifying

Despite changing circuits, the “usual” Mercedes supremacy in qualifying remained evident at Suzuka. The Mercedes W17 cars showcased a perfect balance of engine power and chassis performance, excelling not only on the straights but also through the technically demanding corners. In this intense intra-team battle, Andrea Kimi Antonelli edged out his teammate George Russell by nearly three-tenths of a second, securing a well-earned pole without any dramatic incidents favoring him.

The pole lap was a demonstration of skill, precision, and consistent speed. Antonelli’s performance highlighted his growing maturity as a driver, especially on a track where he had already shown glimpses of his talent during last year’s race, particularly in the second stint.

McLaren and Ferrari battle for the second row

On the second row, Oscar Piastri’s McLaren managed to outpace Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari, emphasizing the Australian driver’s strong qualifying pace throughout the weekend. Piastri’s consistency and prior experience on fast, flowing circuits like Suzuka allowed him to capitalize on any Ferrari missteps.

For Ferrari, it was a mixed session. Charles Leclerc set the fastest time in the first sector, which features the most challenging corners, but struggled in the remaining sectors. On his final flying lap, Leclerc experienced significant oversteer exiting the Spoon Curve, losing time both there and on the following straight. The issue ultimately cost him a better grid position and relegated him to the second row alongside Piastri.

Lando Norris secured the fourth position in his McLaren, hampered by technical setbacks throughout the weekend that limited his running in FP2 and FP3. Lewis Hamilton, driving the second SF-26, completes the second and third row mix of Ferrari and McLaren, reflecting the competitive tension between these teams at Suzuka.

Strong performances from Alpine, Red Bull, and Audi

Pierre Gasly impressed with seventh place, showing that Alpine had made significant improvements in managing mid- and high-speed corners, overcoming the understeer issues seen in earlier sessions. Isack Hadjar took eighth for Red Bull, edging out Max Verstappen in a surprising twist, while Gabriel Bortoleto qualified ninth in the Audi, securing a rare Q3 appearance. Arvid Lindblad also deserves praise for guiding the Racing Bulls car into Q3 on his debut at Suzuka.

Red Bull and other notable disappointments

It was a Saturday to forget for Max Verstappen. The Dutch driver struggled to find stability in the RB22 on a flying lap, citing severe understeer and inconsistent behavior throughout Q2. He failed to reach Q3, finishing behind his teammate and even behind debutant Arvid Lindblad. Esteban Ocon, Nico Hulkenberg, Liam Lawson, Franco Colapinto, and Carlos Sainz also failed to advance past their respective qualifying sessions, adding surprises and disappointments to the weekend storylines.

For Nico Hulkenberg, it was particularly bitter. Despite strong free practice results placing him in the mid-pack, he could not capitalize during the crucial lap. Carlos Sainz’s 16th-place finish is notable given the Williams car’s weight disadvantage and Suzuka’s fast, flowing layout.

The penultimate row sees Alex Albon in 17th, narrowly missing out on Q2, while Oliver Bearman suffered a shocking early exit in Q1, despite Haas usually performing better in races than in qualifying. Bearman explained that his first run was slow and that adjustments to energy deployment did not allow him to improve in the final moments. Cadillac and Aston Martin filled the back rows, struggling with power and chassis limitations, with Aston Martin’s home race particularly disappointing as both cars trailed by nearly three seconds.

Japanese GP 2026 qualifying results