Kimi Antonelli won the qualification in Suzuka.
Clear. Dry. Air +17°C, track +32°C
It's difficult to overtake in Suzuka; much is decided in qualifying, where the competition is always fierce. In the last ten Grands Prix, the pole sitter has won seven times – for the last four years, it has been Max Verstappen.
With the change in regulations, the balance of power has shifted, and the Dutch driver did not contend for pole. On Friday, Oscar Piastri from McLaren led, and on Saturday morning, Kimi Antonelli set the best time in a Mercedes. Many hoped that with the new regulations, overtaking would be easier, but we will find out on Sunday; Saturday saw a fierce battle for the best starting position.
Specifically for Suzuka, the FIA adjusted the qualifying regulations at the request of the teams. Due to the low number of serious braking zones on this track, it is difficult to accumulate energy, so the amount was reduced from 9 to 8 MJ per lap, which decreased the superclipping usage mode to about four seconds. As a result, speed on the straights decreased slightly, but drivers could almost always attack at full strength.
Pirelli brought the hardest tires to the event; for the first time this season, teams received compounds C1, C2, and C3 as Hard, Medium, and Soft.
In the first session, everyone immediately went out on Soft. Drivers worked in pairs of two fast laps with a slow one in between. In the first attempt, Antonelli set the best time, completing a lap in 1:30.035, while his teammate Russell was dissatisfied with the car's behavior, lagging by seven tenths.
In the second attempt, Russell improved, but Leclerc moved ahead with 1:29.915. Albon, Berman, Perez, Bottas, Alonso, and Stroll were eliminated from contention.
In the second session, everyone used Soft. The Mercedes drivers went out first, and Antonelli immediately set a new benchmark – 1:29.774, but Piastri was faster – 1:29.451.
In the second attempt, Leclerc topped the timesheet with 1:29.303, but Antonelli surpassed him by two tenths on his last fast lap – 1:29.048.
Verstappen, Ocon, Hulkenberg, Lawson, Colapinto, and Sainz did not make it to the final.
In the final, Antonelli was the first to complete a fast lap with a new best time of the weekend – 1:28.778 – and no one could go faster. Lindblad went off track on his fast lap – the result was canceled.
In the second attempt, Antonelli's result held, with only Bortoleto, Gasly, and Leclerc improving.
Kimi Antonelli won the qualifying in Suzuka, securing his second pole in his career – and his second in a row.
George Russell was three tenths behind him – tomorrow will be the third time this season and the 85th time in history that Mercedes drivers occupy the entire front row of the starting grid.
Piastri and Leclerc will start from the second row, and Norris and Hamilton from the third.
Qualifying Results
Driver
Team
1st session
2nd session
3rd session
M
Time
Lap
M
Time
Lap
M
Time
Lap
1. K.Antonelli
Mercedes
3
1:30.035
3
1
1:29.048
6
1
1:28.778
6
2. G.Russell
Mercedes
2
1:29.967
6
5
1:29.686
9
2
1:29.076
6
3. O.Piastri
McLaren
4
1:30.200
8
3
1:29.451
6
3
1:29.132
6
4. C.Leclerc
Ferrari
1
1:29.915
6
2
1:29.303
6
4
1:29.405
6
5. L.Norris
McLaren
8
1:30.401
8
6
1:29.785
6
5
1:29.409
6
6. L.Hamilton
Ferrari
5
1:30.309
6
4
1:29.589
8
6
1:29.567
6
7. P.Gasly
Alpine
10
1:30.584
6
7
1:29.874
6
7
1:29.691
6
8. A.Hadjar
Red Bull
12
1:30.662
6
9
1:30.104
6
8
1:29.978
5
9. G.Bortoleto
Audi
7
1:30.359
8
8
1:29.990
6
9
1:30.274
6
10. A.Lindblad
Racing Bulls
13
1:30.781
9
10
1:30.109
6
10
1:30.319
6
11. M.Verstappen
Red Bull
9
1:30.519
6
11
1:30.262
6
12. E.Ocon
Haas
14
1:30.915
9
12
1:30.309
6
13. N.Hulkenberg
Audi
6
1:30.358
8
13
1:30.387
6
14. L.Lawson
Racing Bulls
11
1:30.657
9
14
1:30.495
6
15. F.Colapinto
Alpine
16
1:30.931
6
15
1:30.627
6
16. C.Sainz
Williams
15
1:30.927
9
16
1:31.033
6
17. A.Albon
Williams
17
1:31.088
9
18. O.Berman
Haas
18
1:31.090
9
19. S.Perez
Cadillac
19
1:32.206
6
20. V.Bottas
Cadillac
20
1:32.330
9
21. F.Alonso
Aston Martin
21
1:32.646
9
22. L.Stroll
Aston Martin
22
1:32.920
9
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