Teenage sensation Kimi Antonelli is set to start from pole position for the second consecutive race at the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix. The young Italian driver outperformed his teammate George Russell during the Qualifying session at Suzuka, securing a front-row lockout for Mercedes.
Japan Grand Prix Starting Grid: Official Lineup Revealed
Oscar Piastri of McLaren narrowly missed disrupting the Mercedes dominance, qualifying third. He will line up next to Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who also showed impressive speed. Here’s the complete starting lineup for the Japan Grand Prix:
- 1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- 2. George Russell (Mercedes)
- 3. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- 4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- 5. Lando Norris (McLaren)
- 6. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
- 7. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
- 8. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)
- 9. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)
- 10. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bull)
Lindblad’s strong performance included knocking out four-time champion Max Verstappen in the final moments of Q2. Pierre Gasly heads a competitive midfield, starting in seventh place, while Isack Hadjar and Gabriel Bortoleto round out the top ten.
Race Details
The 2026 Japanese Grand Prix is scheduled to begin at 14:00 local time. Fans can join live coverage starting at 13:00 to catch all the action from Suzuka.
