What the teams said – Qualifying in Japan

Kimi Antonelli claimed pole position for the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, leading a Mercedes front-row lockout ahead of George Russell. Antonelli maintained strong form throughout qualifying, while Russell struggled with a post-FP3 setup change that induced oversteer. McLaren showed competitive pace with Oscar Piastri qualifying third, ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and teammate Lando Norris in fifth. Lewis Hamilton qualified sixth, as the team looks to bridge the gap to the front runners. Alpine's Pierre Gasly secured an impressive seventh, leading the midfield pack. Red Bull faced a difficult session, with Max Verstappen exiting in Q2 and starting 11th, while Isack Hadjar managed to reach Q3, qualifying eighth. Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto reached Q3, securing ninth, while Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad impressed by also making the top-ten shootout.