Follow live F1 updates from the Suzuka circuit as teenager Antonelli starts on pole position
Kimi Antonelli served George Russell a title warning by beating his British team-mate to pole position for Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix.
Buoyed by his maiden victory in China a fortnight ago, Antonelli delivered another composed performance as he secured top spot in Suzuka by 0.298 seconds.
Russell holds a four-point championship lead over Antonelli but he was no match for the Italian teenager during a session in which he grumbled about the handling of his Mercedes .
Oscar Piastri took third place for McLaren, one spot clear of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.
World champion Lando Norris starts fifth with Lewis Hamilton sixth, and Max Verstappen a distant 11th.
Russell opened his season with victory in Australia but Antonelli laid down his own championship marker by winning from pole last time out in Shanghai.
At the previous round, Russell's bid for pole was derailed by technical gremlins after he broke down in Q3.
However, here he was simply outgunned by Antonelli's pure pace.
Follow live updates from the Japanese Grand Prix
How can I watch it online and on TV?
The Japanese Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom.
Sky’s coverage of Sunday’s race starts at 4:30am (GMT).
Oscar Piastri after qualifying third:
“A good Qualifying session today, it was nice to be in the top three and closer to the leading team so overall we can be pretty happy with this afternoon’s result.
All weekend I think we’ve looked reasonably good, and the team has executed every session well, getting things right for the moment across each day which is pleasing.
“We clearly don’t have the pace or the grip to match Mercedes still, but we’re getting closer and that’s the most important point in our on-track performance.
There are plenty of positives today, and it was good to be able to qualify ahead of Ferrari too.
“We’ll now continue to work hard to make important further gains as a team overnight, working on power management and exploiting maximum performance in preparation for the race tomorrow.”
Charles Leclerc after qualifying fourth:
“It’s very frustrating because in Q3, you go into that last lap and you try things which are above what you’ve tried before.
The system needs to reoptimise everything.
I lose time in the straights, you never put a lap together, always comprimising things.
“We’re more exposed to that than the Mercedes engine.
The FIA are still looking to fix those issues.
Apart from that, I was very happy with my lap.
“This would be arrogant to say like that but I think for everybody, going into Q3 is not the nicest feeling, we want to be at the limit of the cars but you pay the price with a snap.
Whenever you play with the limit, you get destroyed in the straights.
“You need to be under the limit, I think it’s less rewarding for the drivers who want to push over it.
Usually in Q3 it pays off, but not with these cars.”
“He’s just calm, not putting himself too much under pressure.
Put a banker in, then pushed it a bit hard.
It’s really pleasing to see.
George: “We did a set-up tweak, it put the car on the nose, too much oversteer, was very difficult for him.
“He needs to carry this into the race.”
Oscar Piastri after qualifying P3:
“Qualifying has been OK this year, nice to be in the top three.
“We clearly don’t have the pace or grip to match Mercedes.”
George Russell after qualifying P2:
“Strange session, we were both very happy IN FP3.
“Beginning of qualifying, we were nowhere, very lucky to be P2.”
Kimi Antonelli after claiming pole:
“Super happy with the session.
Was a clean one.
Now we focus on tomorrow.
“The fans here in Japan are pretty incredible.
Racing in such a historic track is an incredible feeling, thank you so much for coming.”
“Let’s go man!
It’s a shame the last lap, it was a good one, good I’m happy!
Good quali!”
Kimi Antonelli on pole position!
Russell fails to improve!
He has to settle for second - and Antonelli takes it by 0.298 secs.
Oscar Piastri is third, Charles Leclerc in fourth but could have gone quicker - he had a big snap in sector two!
5-10: Norris, Hamilton, Gasly, Hadjar, Bortoleto, Lindblad
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