Teen star Kimi Antonelli scores second-straight pole for Japanese Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri third
Kimi Antonelli has pipped Mercedes teammate George Russell to back-to-back pole positions at the Japanese Grand Prix.
A fortnight after he became the youngest pole-sitter in the sport's history, Antonelli dominated qualifying at Suzuka to go fastest by nearly three tenths.
"I'm super happy with the session, it was a good one, a clean one," the 19-year-old said.
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Kimi Antonelli has scored back-to-back pole positions. LAT Images
"I felt very good in the car and every run I was just improving and improving."
Antonelli heads into Sunday's race after converting his first pole position into a first career win in China. A repeat in Japan would see him take the championship lead off Russell, who currently leads Antonelli by four points.
Oscar Piastri will line up third, his best qualifying result of the year, ahead of Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris.
"I think qualifying has been OK this year, but it's nice to get into the top three," Piastri said.
"I think this weekend we've looked good and executed well. We clearly don't have the pace or the grip to match the Mercedes still, but we're getting closer and that's the main thing."
Oscar Piastri will line up third for the Japanese Grand Prix. Formula 1 via Getty Images
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen will line up 11th - a shock elimination at the end of the second part of qualifying.
"I think there is something wrong with the car, mate," he lamented over team radio.
"It's completely undrivable suddenly in this qualifying."
To make matters worse, he was knocked out by Arvid Lindblad in the junior Racing Bulls team, who moved into 10th in the dying seconds to push Verstappen into the drop zone.
It's the second time this season Verstappen has failed to progress through to the final part of qualifying. In Melbourne, a brake issue caused him to spin into the gravel trap in the first part of qualifying.
Max Verstappen has had a shocker in Suzuka, and will start 11th. Formula 1 via Getty Images
Russell, the winner of the opening race in Australia and the Saturday sprint in China, complained of a lack of rear grip throughout the session.
"We made some adjustments after final practice and then the beginning of qualifying we were nowhere," he said. "Very lucky to be again in second.
"The last two weekends it's kind of both gone wrong come qualifying. But the race is tomorrow and still a lot to play for," added Russell, who suffered technical issues during qualifying in China.
Mercedes have started Formula One's new rules era in dominant style and are on course to chalk up their first season-opening hat-trick of one-two finishes since 2019.
For Aussie F1 fans, the Japanese Grand Prix is the best time zone until the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in September, and will begin at 4pm Sunday.
- With Reuters
Japanese Grand Prix full qualifying results
| Pos | Driver | Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 |
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:30.035 | 1:29.048 | 1:28.778 |
| 2 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:29.967 | 1:29.686 | 1:29.076 |
| 3 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:30.200 | 1:29.451 | 1:29.132 |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:29.915 | 1:29.303 | 1:29.405 |
| 5 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:30.401 | 1:29.795 | 1:29.409 |
| 6 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:30.309 | 1:29.589 | 1:29.567 |
| 7 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 1:30.584 | 1:29.874 | 1:29.691 |
| 8 | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull | 1:30.662 | 1:30.104 | 1:29.978 |
| 9 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi | 1:30.359 | 1:29.990 | 1:30.274 |
| 10 | Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls | 1:30.781 | 1:30.109 | 1:30.319 |
| 11 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:30.519 | 1:30.262 | -- |
| 12 | Esteban Ocon | Haas | 1:30.915 | 1:30.309 | -- |
| 13 | Nico Hulkenberg | Audi | 1:30.358 | 1:30.387 | -- |
| 14 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 1:30.657 | 1:30.495 | -- |
| 15 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | 1:30.931 | 1:30.627 | -- |
| 16 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | 1:30.927 | 1:31.033 | -- |
| 17 | Alexander Albon | Williams | 1:31.088 | -- | -- |
| 18 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | 1:31.090 | -- | -- |
| 19 | Sergio Perez | Cadillac | 1:32.206 | -- | -- |
| 20 | Valtteri Bottas | Cadillac | 1:32.330 | -- | -- |
| 21 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:32.646 | -- | -- |
| 22 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:32.920 | -- | -- |
