Antonelli soaks up ‘incredible feeling’ after taking Japan pole

Kimi Antonelli secured pole position at the Japanese Grand Prix, continuing his impressive 2026 season form. The 19-year-old Mercedes driver set a dominant lap time of 1m 28.778s, outperforming teammate George Russell to help the team lock out the front row for the third consecutive race. Reflecting on the achievement, Antonelli expressed his joy at the "incredible feeling" of driving at the historic Suzuka track and praised the passionate Japanese fans. While acknowledging a slight mistake at Turn 11 during his second run, he remains focused on maintaining his momentum. With two podium finishes already this year, including a victory, Antonelli is optimistic about his performance as he aims for his second win, while also looking to build a lead in the Drivers' Championship.