Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli and Mercedes driver George Russell secured the front row in Suzuka qualifying, with Kimi Antonelli taking pole and George Russell second despite the FIA reducing qualifying recharge from 9 MJ to 8 MJ.
Kimi Antonelli, who became the youngest pole-sitter with his first grand prix pole, followed up with another top time this weekend; McLaren driver Oscar Piastri qualified third and Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc starts fourth.
McLaren driver Lando Norris recovered to fifth after a practice issue, while driver Lewis Hamilton starts sixth; Alpine driver Pierre Gasly qualified seventh, followed by Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar, Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto and rookie driver Arvid Lindblad.
Driver Max Verstappen, driver Esteban Ocon, driver Nico Hulkenberg, driver Liam Lawson, driver Franco Colapinto and driver Carlos Sainz failed to reach Q3 and will start 11th–16th, while driver Alex Albon missed Q2 by 0.055 seconds and driver Oliver Bearman begins 18th.
Read the full article at roadandtrack.com.
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