Kimi Antonelli sends message after beating George Russell to clinch pole for Japanese Grand Prix

Kimi Antonelli has claimed pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit, edging out Mercedes teammate George Russell by close to three tenths of a second. The Italian teenager posted a commanding lap time of 1m 28.778s during Q3, a margin that proved insurmountable for the rest of the field. Russell encountered difficulties throughout the session, battling balance issues that prevented him from mounting a serious challenge to his younger colleague. The result marks the third consecutive race weekend where Mercedes have secured both front row starting positions, demonstrating the Silver Arrows' strong form in the early stages of the 2026 campaign. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Antonelli, still just 19 years old, continues his remarkable start to life in Formula 1. The young Italian spoke enthusiastically about his experience at one of motorsport's most celebrated venues, describing the sensation of competing there as "incredible." "The fans here in Japan are pretty incredible. There's so much passion and racing at a historic track is an incredible feeling," Antonelli explained. He highlighted how the combination of Suzuka's legendary layout and the current generation of machinery creates something special for drivers. "The track is unbelievable to drive with this kind of car plus the fans give us a little bit more of a boost when we go on track," he added. The Japanese supporters have embraced the teenage sensation throughout the weekend, providing vocal encouragement during track sessions. LATEST SPORTS NEWS: Kimi Antonelli has enjoyed a positive start to the 2026 F1 season Thomas Tuchel 'disappointed' as England fans boo Three Lions star in Uruguay World Cup warm-up Imane Khelif shares video that speaks volumes after IOC move to protect women Reflecting on his qualifying performance, Antonelli expressed satisfaction despite not executing a perfect session. "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." The minor error cost him valuable time, though his earlier effort had already secured the top spot. "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," Antonelli concluded. Antonelli has built considerable momentum since the season began, having already secured a second-place finish and a victory in the opening rounds. "For sure I was able to build momentum already from the Melbourne race, and then China was continuing to build momentum," he reflected. "It's just trying to keep this momentum and keep on trying to improve and squeeze a bit of performance every time without overdoing it." Historical data from Suzuka suggests pole position offers a significant advantage, with eight of the previous twelve Japanese Grands Prix won from the front of the grid. Should Antonelli avoid the minor mistakes that have occasionally affected his performances, such as his FP3 crash in Australia and a poor start in China, he could overtake Russell to lead the Drivers' Championship standings. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

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