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Agence France-Presse

Kimi Antonelli took pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix ahead of teammate George Russell on Saturday as Mercedes tightened their stranglehold on the new Formula One season.
The Silver Arrows have claimed one-two finishes at both grands prix so far this year and they were again ahead of the field in dry conditions in Suzuka.
The 19-year-old Italian Antonelli became the youngest pole-sitter in F1 history two weeks ago in China and he made it two in a row with a fastest lap of one minute, 28.778 seconds.
Early championship leader Russell was second 0.298 behind, with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri third and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc fourth.
“Super-happy with the session, it was a good one, it was a clean one,” said Antonelli, who won in Shanghai for his maiden grand prix victory. “I felt very good in the car and every run was improving.”
Russell said he was struggling with his car for most of the qualifying session but still had enough pace to get the job done.

“We were both really fast all weekend, we made some adjustments and then at the beginning of the qualifying we were nowhere,” the Briton said. “Race [to come] and still a lot to play for.”
McLaren’s world champion Lando Norris was fifth, followed by Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly.
A despondent Max Verstappen labelled his Red Bull car “undriveable” after the four-time world champion qualified a lowly 11th.
The Dutchman, who has won at Suzuka for the past four years, dropped out in Q2 in another qualifying nightmare to compound a difficult start to the season.
He crashed out in Q3 in the season-opener in Australia and has consistently railed against new Formula One regulations that see a 50-50 split between conventional and electrical power.
“The car never turns mid-corner, but at the same time this weekend, it’s just oversteering a lot on entry. It’s really difficult, unpredictable,” said Verstappen, who took pole last year with a track-record lap time.
“We thought we’d fixed it a little bit in FP3 [third practice], I mean there was still a lot of understeer in the car, but now in qualifying for me it was again undriveable, so that’s something that we need to look at.”
Verstappen, who finished sixth in Melbourne and retired from the Chinese Grand Prix two weeks ago, added: “We have problems that I cannot explain in detail here.

“I think in qualifying it just came back to a point where it became undriveable.”
Verstappen, 28, was involved in a public confrontation on Thursday when he ejected a reporter from his news conference.
Esteban Ocon of Haas, Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg, RB’s Liam Lawson, Alpine’s Franco Colapinto and Williams’ Carlos Sainz also went out in Q2.
Haas driver Ollie Bearman was a shock failure in Q3 after he finished fifth at the Chinese Grand Prix.
Cadillac pair Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas went out with him, as did Williams’ Alex Albon and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.
The Aston Martin pair, who have yet to complete a grand prix so far this season as they struggle with extreme vibration, finished bottom of the timesheets.


Kimi Antonelli claims pole position at Japanese Grand Prix ahead of teammate George Russell

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri outshines Mercedes duo to go fastest in Japanese Grand Prix practice

F1 Japanese Grand Prix: smarting Verstappen asks journalist to ‘get out’ of media briefing

Max Verstappen’s Japanese Grand Prix win streak under threat as Mercedes dominate

Formula One (F1)

Kimi Antonelli claimed his second pole position in a row at the Japanese Grand Prix. Photo: dpa

Kimi Antonelli (left) with Japan’s sumo wrestler Kotozakura after the qualifying session. Photo: AP

Max Verstappen labelled his Red Bull car “undriveable” after he qualified a lowly 11th. Photo: AFP

Sport

Two Mercedes drivers are followed by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in third and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in fourth, with Max Verstappen down in 11th


Two Mercedes drivers are followed by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in third and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in fourth, with Max Verstappen down in 11th.


Kimi Antonelli claims pole position at Japanese Grand Prix ahead of teammate George Russell

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Two Mercedes drivers are followed by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in third and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in fourth, with Max Verstappen down in 11th

Two Mercedes drivers are followed by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in third and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in fourth, with Max Verstappen down in 11th