Japanese Grand Prix: Kimi Antonelli takes second consecutive pole in qualifying
Kimi Antonelli served George Russell a title warning by beating his British teammate to pole place for Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix.
Buoyed by his maiden victory in China a fortnight in the past, Antonelli delivered one other composed efficiency as he secured high spot in Suzuka by 0.298 seconds.
Russell holds a four-point championship lead over Antonelli however he was no match for the Italian teenager throughout a session in which he grumbled concerning the dealing with of his Mercedes.
Oscar Piastri took third place for McLaren, one spot away from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
world champion Lando Norris fifth begins with Lewis Hamilton sixth, and Max Verstappen to distant eleventh.
Russell opened his season with victory in Australia however Antonelli laid down his personal championship marker by profitable from pole final day trip in Shanghai.
At the earlier spherical, Russell’s bid for pole was derailed by technical gremlins after he broke down in Q3. However, right here he was merely outgunned by Antonelli’s pure tempo.
“Let’s go, man,” a jubilant Antonelli mentioned over the radio.
In Q1, Russell detected there was one thing lacking inside his Mercedes equipment.
“Something doesn’t feel right,” Russell mentioned over the radio. Later, he added: “I think we’re missing something here. We can’t be lacking this much pace. Look at everything.”
But Russell couldn’t get on phrases with Antonelli as he landed his second pole in as many weeks.
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“He did a great job again,” Russell mentioned of his 19-year-old teammate. “It was a really strange session. We were both very fast all weekend. I made some adjustments after practice this morning, and then at the beginning of qualifying, I was nowhere.
“So, we have to perceive that as a result of I’m very fortunate once more to be second. The final two weekends it has gone improper as qualifying, however the race is tomorrow and there is nonetheless quite a bit to play for.”
Antonelli said: “I’m tremendous pleased with the session. It was a very good one, it was a clear one. I felt excellent in the automobile and each run I used to be enhancing and enhancing.”
Over at Red Bull, Verstappen’s traumatic start to the new campaign took another turbulent twist when he was knocked out of Q2.
The four-time world champion — who began the week by ejecting a journalist from his news conference — claimed there was “one thing improper” with his “utterly undriveable” Red Bull as he worked to 11th.
Verstappen was beaten by Red Bull teammate Isaac Hadjar as he failed to make it into Q3. Hadjar lines up from eighth.
Ollie Bearman had started his second season in fine form, but he suffered a surprise early elimination from qualifying.
Bearman, fifth in the drivers’ standings, will start 18th with only the Cadillac duo of Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas and Aston Martin’s beleaguered Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll behind him on the grid.
