F1 Japanese GP 2026 Qualifying: Kimi Antonelli Takes Pole, Verstappen Out in Q2
Kimi Antonelli takes pole at Suzuka for F1 Japanese GP 2026, while Max Verstappen exits in Q2 and misses Q3.
Kimi Antonelli delivered two laps good enough for pole at Suzuka, while Max Verstappen not only loses his pole streak dating back to 2019, but he failed to make Q3 while his Red Bull team-mate Isack Hadjar did and qualified eighth.
Japanese Grand Prix qualifying result
Kimi Antonelli – 1m28.778s
George Russell +0.298s
Oscar Piastri +0.354s
Charles Leclerc +0.627s
Lando Norris +0.631s
Lewis Hamilton +0.789s
Pierre Gasly +0.913s
Isack Hadjar +1.200s
Gabriel Bortoleto +1.496s
Arvid Lindblad +1.541s
Out in Q2
11. Max Verstappen +1.214s
12. Esteban Ocon +1.261s
13. Nico Hulkenberg +1.33s
14. Liam Lawson +1.447s
15. Franco Colapinto +1.579s
16. Carlos Sainz +1.985s
Out in Q1
17. Alex Albon +1.173s
18. Ollie Bearman +1.175s
19. Sergio Perez +2.291s
20. Valtteri Bottas +2.415s
21. Fernando Alonso +2.731s
22. Lance Stroll +3.005s