Kimi Antonelli secures Japanese GP pole ahead of Mercedes teammate George Russell

[p]Mercedes have claimed one-two finishes at both grands prix so far in a flying start to the Formula 1 season and they were again dominant in dry conditions at Suzuka.[/p][p]The 19-year-old Italian [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/antonelli-andrea-kimi/ptGu0mT1/"]Antonelli[/a] 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.[/p][p]Early championship leader [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/russell-george/xxF56RaN/"]Russell[/a] was second, 0.298 seconds behind, with McLaren's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/piastri-oscar/MqKAIeUf/"]Oscar Piastri[/a] third and Ferrari's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/leclerc-charles/KlCOSRub/"]Charles Leclerc[/a] fourth.[/p][p]Antonelli, who won the first grand prix of his F1 career in China two weeks ago, said it was "a really clean session".[/p][p][b]"There's still work to do in these big tracks with the energy, how to find a solution that allows us to push even more and drive without thinking too much,"[/b] he said.[/p][p][b]"But overall I think it was good fun."[/b][/p][embed guid="0c45e4e7-0d13-4f9d-98c0-8dda83a3be1f" url="https://x.com/i/status/2037795072293396752" social-type="twitter" /][p]Russell was fastest in Friday's first practice but he has trailed his younger team-mate in every session since then.[/p][p]The British driver said he was struggling with his car for most of qualifying and admitted it was "not ideal" going into Sunday's race.[/p][p][b]"I've been really comfortable with the car this whole weekend, it's just in qualifying something didn't quite feel right,"[/b] he said.[/p][p][b]"Let's see tonight, maybe we'll get some answers, maybe I can adjust my driving style to compensate."[/b][/p][h2]'Undriveable' Red Bull[/h2][p]Russell's problems paled into insignificance compared with those facing four-time world champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/verstappen-max/UV3mgeXB/"]Verstappen[/a], who exited in Q2 and starts from a lowly 11th on the grid for Red Bull.[/p][p]The Dutchman, who has won in Japan for the past four years, took pole last year with a track-record lap time.[/p][p]He has railed against new Formula 1 regulations that see a 50-50 split between conventional and electrical power, and labelled his car "undriveable".[/p][p][b]"The car never turns mid-corner, but at the same time this weekend, it's just oversteering a lot on entry,"[/b] he said.[/p][p][b]"It's really difficult, unpredictable."[/b][/p][embed guid="6cce3601-bb6c-473d-a3c7-49245b0a05de" url="https://x.com/F1/status/2037790352506044854?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Verstappen, who finished sixth in Melbourne and retired from the Shanghai grand prix two weeks ago, added: [b]"We have problems that I cannot explain in detail here."[/b][/p][p]Verstappen was involved in a public confrontation on Thursday when he ejected a reporter from his news conference.[/p][p]McLaren's world champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/norris-lando/WSVABbVF/"]Lando Norris[/a] was fifth, followed by Ferrari's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hamilton-lewis/tI5Vpe1h/"]Lewis Hamilton[/a] and Alpine's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gasly-pierre/nqYFMBBf/"]Pierre Gasly[/a].[/p][p]Verstappen's Red Bull team-mate Isack Hadjar was eighth, with Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto and Arvid Lindblad of RB rounding out the top 10.[/p][p]Piastri will be desperate to make an impact in Sunday's race after missing the first two grands prix of the season.[/p][p]The Australian said his qualifying session was "pretty well executed" after also finishing fastest in Friday's second practice.[/p][p][b]"It's nice to be closer,"[/b] said Piastri of his third place on the grid.[/p][p][b]"I think we're learning more and more about the car and about the power unit every weekend."[/b][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ocon-esteban/nZKY1D4O/"]Esteban Ocon[/a] of Haas, Audi's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hulkenberg-nico/GfW4SMu7/"]Nico Hulkenberg[/a], RB's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lawson-liam/nap8RjeO/"]Liam Lawson[/a], Alpine's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/colapinto-franco/GzFqySBA/"]Franco Colapinto[/a] and Williams' [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sainz-carlos-jr/l6kEzjTF/"]Carlos Sainz[/a] also went out in Q2.[/p][p]Haas driver [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bearman-oliver/tMI3u5xo/"]Ollie Bearman[/a] was a shock faller in Q3 after he finished fifth at the Chinese Grand Prix.[/p][p]Cadillac pair [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/perez-sergio/foV8RteD/"]Sergio Perez[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bottas-valtteri/bRJJqiGb/"]Valtteri Bottas[/a] went out with him, as did Williams' [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/albon-alexander/OEbwYC7k/"]Alex Albon[/a] and Aston Martin's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alonso-fernando/rVRhR90U/"]Fernando Alonso[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/stroll-lance/I3p9zz4s/"]Lance Stroll[/a].[/p][p]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.[/p]