The young Mercedes prodigy dominates qualifying in Japan, while Verstappen sinks into a nightmare session.
The expected hierarchy was confirmed during qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix, held at the Suzuka circuit. And it was Kimi Antonelli who shone by taking an authoritative pole position, ahead of his teammate George Russell and Oscar Piastri’s McLaren.
In cool but stable conditions, the young Italian showed impressive mastery throughout the session, confirming Mercedes’ excellent form at the start of the season.
Q1: first tensions and Bearman surprise
The first phase of qualifying quickly set the tone. After an initial series of laps dominated by the back-of-the-grid drivers, the leaders took over, with Antonelli in the lead from the first runs.
Charles Leclerc briefly managed to take the fastest time in 1’29″915, but the gap remained extremely tight with Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton. Russell, for his part, reported unusual sensations behind the wheel despite a competitive time.
The surprise came from the elimination of Oliver Bearman, trapped at the end of the session, while Carlos Sainz managed to save himself in extremis. Several teams, including Aston Martin and Williams, also had a difficult Q1.
Q2: Verstappen’s heavy fall
The second part of the session provided the real drama. While Mercedes and Ferrari juggled between used and new tires, Piastri struck hard with a lap in 1’29″451.
But all eyes quickly turned to Max Verstappen. Struggling since the start of the weekend, the Red Bull driver found himself under pressure in the final moments.
Read more Honda: «acceptable» vibrations on the Aston Martin for this weekend
Despite an improvement, he was beaten by his teammate Isack Hadjar, before being definitively eliminated by rookie Arvid Lindblad. An unexpected scenario that relegated the four-time world champion out of the top 10.
Q3: Antonelli concludes with authority
In Q3, Antonelli quickly set his pace. From the first attempt, he posted an impressive 1’28″778, relegating Russell to nearly three-tenths and Piastri even further back.
Behind, Norris and Leclerc tried to close in, but without managing to worry the Mercedes. During the final attempt, none of the leaders managed to improve, proof of the difficulty of the Japanese track.
Only Leclerc managed to slot in between the McLarens despite a notable error, while the rest of the top 10 remained more than a second behind the poleman.
A new era taking shape?
With this second pole position in Formula 1, Antonelli confirms his status as the revelation of the season. Mercedes, for its part, continues to lay down the law, placing its two cars on the front row.
Conversely, Red Bull is going through a delicate period. Verstappen’s early elimination symbolizes the team’s current difficulties, now under pressure before the race.
Suzuka could well mark a turning point in this 2026 F1 season already full of twists and turns.
Read more Franco Colapinto fans have harassed Esteban Ocon online, FIA reacts
Qualifying Classification for the 2026 F1 Japanese GP:
