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Kimi Antonelli claims stunning pole position at Japanese Grand Prix, leaving rivals in the dust

Redação by Redação
March 28, 2026
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0

Kimi Antonelli Stuns the Competition, Secures Pole Position at the Japanese Grand Prix!

In a breathtaking display of speed and skill, Kimi Antonelli has triumphed over his Mercedes teammate George Russell to snatch pole position for the highly anticipated Japanese Grand Prix. This achievement marks a spectacular second consecutive pole for the rising star, who recently celebrated his first grand prix victory at the Chinese GP.

As the clouds gathered over the iconic Suzuka circuit, Antonelli showcased his prowess, clearly outpacing Russell amidst concerns over the Mercedes driver's stability. Russell, who was vocal about the unsettling vibrations affecting his performance during Q3, lamented, “what a horrible session that was” as he narrowly edged out Oscar Piastri to secure second place by a mere half-tenth.

With a stunning qualifying time of 1m28.778s, Antonelli’s initial run proved formidable enough, establishing a gap of almost three-tenths over Russell. The pressures mounted for the likes of McLaren and Ferrari drivers, who failed to mount a serious challenge as Antonelli solidified his dominance.

Charles Leclerc, who had shown promise by topping Q1, faced his own struggles, suffering a snap of oversteer exiting Spoon Curve during his final run in Q3. Ultimately, he finished the qualifying session a staggering 0.627s off the pole, just ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris, who managed to keep his Ferrari rival Lewis Hamilton at bay.

Alpine showcased resilience after a rocky Friday, as Pierre Gasly's impressive 1m29.691s secured him a commendable seventh position, three-tenths ahead of Isack Hadjar. Meanwhile, Gabriel Bortoleto and Arvid Lindblad rounded out the Q3 participants, leaving a notable absence glaringly evident: the unexpected exit of Max Verstappen.

In a shocking twist reminiscent of his struggles in China, Verstappen's RB22 faltered, leaving him mired in the midfield and forced to exit during Q2. Complaining that his car had become “completely undriveable suddenly,” he battled through a series of corrections mid-qualifying, ultimately falling short of the top 10 by a mere 0.153s. He is set to share the sixth row with Haas driver Esteban Ocon, a far cry from the reigning champion's usual dominance.

Adding to the drama, Haas faced its first Q1 exit of the season as Ollie Bearman struggled with car issues that hampered his performance. The young driver expressed frustration, finishing 18th and highlighting the relentless challenges faced on the circuit. Likewise, Alex Albon found himself on the wrong side of the cutoff, voicing his concerns about the ongoing issues he's faced throughout the season.

As the qualifying session unfolded, Cadillac’s performance outshone Aston Martin, while Sergio Perez clocked in as the fastest among that group, though still significantly off the ultimate pace. The battle for supremacy at Suzuka has never been more electrifying, with Antonelli seizing the moment and setting the stage for a thrilling race.

Japanese Grand Prix Qualifying Results: 1. Kimi Antonelli – 1m28.778s 2. George Russell +0.298s 3. Oscar Piastri +0.354s 4. Charles Leclerc +0.627s 5. Lando Norris +0.631s 6. Lewis Hamilton +0.789s 7. Pierre Gasly +0.913s 8. Isack Hadjar +1.200s 9. Gabriel Bortoleto +1.496s 10. Arvid Lindblad +1.541s

Out in Q2: 11. Max Verstappen +1.214s 12. Esteban Ocon +1.261s 13. Nico Hulkenberg +1.33s 14. Liam Lawson +1.447s 15. Franco Colapinto +1.579s 16. Carlos Sainz +1.985s

Out in Q1: 17. Alex Albon +1.173s 18. Ollie Bearman +1.175s 19. Sergio Perez +2.291s 20. Valtteri Bottas +2.415s 21. Fernando Alonso +2.731s 22. Lance Stroll +3.005s

Brace yourselves for an electrifying race day as Kimi Antonelli leads the charge, but with fierce competitors lurking close behind, anything can happen on the hallowed grounds of Suzuka!

Tags: Ferrariformula-1-engeorge-russell-2japanese-grand-prixKimi AntonelliLewis HamiltonMcLarenMercedes
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