Kimi Antonelli roars to Japan pole as Max Verstappen suffers Red Bull embarrassment

Kimi Antonelli roared to a second pole position of the season, beating team-mate George Russell by nearly three-tenths at Suzuka. 

The Italian, who has held a comfortable advantage over Russell all weekend, became the only driver to break into the 1:28s, with a time of 1:28.778 on his first run in Q3, with Russell 0.298s slower as McLaren's Oscar Piastri was also just about within shot of pole, less than a tenth behind Russell.

However, on the final Q3 runs, none of Antonelli, Russell, or Piastri improved, meaning Antonelli claimed the first Mercedes Suzuka pole since Lewis Hamilton in 2018, with it being the 50th pole for an Italian driver.

He became the first Italian since Jarno Trulli in 2004 to claim multiple pole positions in a single season.

Elsewhere, Charles Leclerc was fourth ahead of Lando Norris and Hamilton in fifth and sixth.

Max Verstappen's run of four straight Suzuka poles ended after he was eliminated in Q2, in 11th place.

Q3

After the first runs had Antonelli three-tenths clear, he locked up at the hairpin on his second attempt, but it was not enough to derail his pole. 

A late challenge appeared to be coming from Leclerc, who went purple through Sector 1, but a snap of oversteer on exit of Spoon cost Leclerc his shot, although he did jump ahead of Norris by 0.004s.

Elsewhere, Pierre Gasly was best of the rest in seventh place ahead of Isack Hadjar for Red Bull, Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto and Racing Bulls' Arvid Lindblad.

Verstappen dumped out in Q2

The huge story in Q2 was the elimination of Verstappen by Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad.

Verstappen branded his Red Bull as "undriveable" after being knocked out and failing to make Q3 at Suzuka for the first time since his 2015 rookie season.

His run of four straight poles at Suzuka came to an end after Lindblad squeaked through to Q3 by 0.153s, dumping the Red Bull out. 

Verstappen was joined in the elimination zone by Esteban Ocon, Nico Hulkenberg, whose Audi had looked quick through practice, Liam Lawson, Franco Colapinto, and Carlos Sainz. 

Up front, the segment was topped by Antonelli, Leclerc and Piastri. Antonelli was nearly two-and-a-half tenths clear of the Ferrari, and nearly six clear of Russell in fifth, who complained of something being off with his car, such was his struggle for consistency.

Bearman out in Q1

In Q1, the biggest shock was the elimination of Haas' Oliver Bearman. 

Having qualified well in the midfield in the first two races, Bearman was only 18th fastest in the session and was formally eliminated by Williams' Alex Albon by 0.002s, although Albon could not save himself.

He was on the elimination bubble, but Alpine's Colapinto squeaked through with the final flying lap of Q1 to secure his place in Q2.

Behind, both Cadillacs out-qualified both Aston Martins, with Sergio Perez winning the mini-battle of the four, by just over a tenth from Valtteri Bottas.

Meanwhile, at Aston, new father Fernando Alonso kept in place his streak of out-qualifying Lance Stroll for every grand prix since the 2024 British GP with his final lap, the Canadian having been ahead after the initial runs.

Up front, Leclerc topped the segment from Russell and Antonelli, Russell making a second run after a mistake on his first left him half-a-second down on his team-mate.