SUZUKA, Japan — Kimi Antonelli has stormed to pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix during qualifying Saturday at Suzuka Circuitland.
The Italian driver followed up on his maiden pole last time out in China to put himself at the front of the grid ahead of Mercedes teammate George Russell.
After looking on the pace throughout qualifying, Antonelli continued that form by securing provisional pole on his first run in Q3 – and while he failed to improve on his final lap, the youngster had done enough to secure P1 on the grid with his time of one minute and 28.778 seconds.
“It was a good session, I’m happy with it,” he said. “I think I was able to improve lap by lap. That first Q3 lap was good. Second lap was looking strong but then at Turn 11 I locked up and lost quite a bit of time so it was a shame.
“I was a bit annoyed with that but [I got] pole position. I felt good in the car, felt good with the track, and now focusing on tomorrow.”
Russell could not match the other Silver Arrows car and had to settle for second, ending the session 0.298 seconds adrift.
Oscar Piastri proved to be the pair’s closest competitor in third for McLaren. Charles Leclerc had also looked on for a strong lap but suffered a snap of oversteer on his last effort, leaving the Ferrari racer in fourth.
Lando Norris placed in fifth for McLaren, ahead of the other Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton, while Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar, Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad completed the top 10.
