Starting Grid For The 2026 F1 Japanese Grand Prix

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Mercedes' Italian driver Kimi Antonelli poses with his pole position award after the qualifying session ahead of the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka circuit in Suzuka, Mie prefecture on March 28, 2026. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP via Getty Images)

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Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes secured a second career pole position after going fastest in Saturday’s qualifying at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Having made history last time out in China as the youngest pole sitter in F1, the Italian followed that up with another one in Suzuka, beating teammate George Russell to pole by nearly three-tenths.

The 19-year-old will be aiming to convert the advantage into back-to-back victories after becoming the second-youngest grand prix winner in Shanghai, just shy of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris will line up in third and fifth respectively, with Charles Leclerc of Ferrari sandwiched between them.

Further down, Lewis Hamilton secured sixth in the other Ferrari ahead of Pierre Gasly’s Alpine and Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar, who has now outqualified teammate Verstappen two times in three races.

Verstappen will start the race in a lowly 11th in his problematic RB22 car after missing out on the last segment of qualifying (Q3) by nearly two-tenths to Arvid Lindblad of sister team Racing Bulls.

Lindblad lines up in 10th place behind Nico Hulkenberg’s Audi.

Elsewhere, the Cadillac duo of Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas were both eliminated in the first segment of qualifying and clocked the 19th and 20th fastest times, followed by Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.

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Mercedes' Italian driver Kimi Antonelli poses with his pole position award after the qualifying session ahead of the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka circuit in Suzuka, Mie prefecture on March 28, 2026. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP via Getty Images)

AFP via Getty Images
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Starting Grid For The 2026 Japanese Grand Prix​

Here’s the starting order for the Japanese GP in Suzuka

1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes): 1:28.778
2. George Russell (Mercedes): +0.298
3. Oscar Piastri (McLaren): +0.354
4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari): +0.627
5. Lando Norris (McLaren): +0.631
6. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari): +0.789
7. Pierre Gasly (Alpine): +0.913
8. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull): +1.200
9. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi): +1.496
10. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls): +1.541
11. Max Verstappen (Red Bull): +1.484
12. Esteban Ocon (Haas): +1.531
13. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi): +1.609
14. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls): +1.717
15. Franco Colapinto (Alpine): +1.849
16. Carlos Sainz (Williams): +2.255
17. Alex Albon (Williams): +2.310
18. Oliver Bearman (Haas): +2.312
19. Sergio Perez (Cadillac): +3.428
20. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac): +3.552
21. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin): +3.868
22. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin): +4.142

The Japanese Grand Prix race starts at 2 p.m. local time on Sunday, March 28.

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