Kimi Antonelli has made it back-to-back poles, following up his maiden success in China with another stunning performance at the Japanese Grand Prix qualifying.
The young Italian looked quick throughout qualifying and stamped his authority in Q3, setting a 1m28.778s on his first run. That lap proved unbeatable, even as he failed to improve on his final attempt. Mercedes team-mate George Russell had to settle for second, three-tenths off Antonelli's pace, while McLaren's Oscar Piastri slotted into third.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was on course for a strong lap but a snap of oversteer left him fourth, just ahead of Lando Norris. Lewis Hamilton lined up sixth in the other Ferrari, with Pierre Gasly seventh for Alpine. Red Bull's Isack Hadjar, Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto and Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad rounded out the top ten.
Here are the live updates of the 2026 F1 Japanese GP:
2026 F1 Japanese GP LIVE: Kimi Antonelli Wins The Japenese GP
Kimi Antonelli has kept up the streak, winning the F1 2026 Japense GP, ahead of Oscar Piastri on the second and Leclerc on the third.
KIMI ANTONELLI WINS THE JAPANESE GRAND PRIX!!! 🏁🏆🥳#F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/yZ7Ozd2k1e
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 29, 2026
2026 F1 Japanese GP LIVE: Kimi Gets Closer To Pole With Just A Lap To Go
With just one lap to go, Kimi Antonelli doesn't seem to give an advantage to Piastri.
2026 F1 Japanese GP LIVE: Geroge Russell Disappointed Again
Into the 51st lap Geroge Russell gets a better exit and gains a place advantage at the turn, but Leclerc's quick push brough him back to P3 disappointing Russell.
2026 F1 Japanese GP LIVE: Lap 50 - Top 10 Drivers
- Kimi Antonelli- Mercedes
- Oscar Piastri- McLaren
- Charles Leclerc- Ferrari
- George Russell - Mercedes
- Lewis Hamilton- Ferrari
- Lando Norris- McLaren
- Pierre Gasly- Alpine
- Max Verdtappen- Red Bull
- Liam Lawson- Racing Bulls
- Esteban Ocon- Haas
2026 F1 Japanese GP LIVE: Lando Battles Hamilton For P5
Just down Russell, Hamilton's Ferrari is also under pressure from Lando Norris.
2026 F1 Japanese GP LIVE: Leclerc Under Pressure From Russell
George Russell and Charles Leclerc are in a neck to neck battle for getting the podium place. With George having the boost mode, chances are he might get some advantage in the following laps.
2026 F1 Japanese GP LIVE: Geroge Ahead of Hamilton Now
After team-mate Leclerc takjng a lead, Hamilton has been seen struggling a bit, and using his boost mode now George Russell has outpaced the seven-time word champion.
2026 F1 Japanese GP LIVE: Charles Gains Third Place, Hamilton Looks Vulnerable
Now Lewis Hamilton looks very vulnerable after Charles gained the third place pushing behind Lewis. Using the overtake mode Charles used the power to his best advantage.
LAP 42 & 43/53
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 29, 2026
Brilliant battling between the Ferraris 💪
And Leclerc gets through into the final podium place#F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/d6GDBW8koA
2026 F1 Japanese GP LIVE: Both Ferrari's Wheel To Wheel Again
With both the Ferrari's on third and fourth, the moment is quite nostalgic from the Chinese GP, where both the cars were wheel to wheel struggling to gain the "Best-Ferrari" position.
2026 F1 Japanese GP LIVE: Charles Outpaces George Russell
Geroge has further lost his positions, due to poor battery deployement, giving Charles a lead over him to gain the fourth place, just behind Hamilton.
2026 F1 Japanese GP LIVE: Lap 32 Top 10 Drivers
- Kimi Antonelli- Mercedes
- Oscar Piastri- McLaren
- Lewis Hamilton- Ferrari
- George Russell - Mercedes
- Charles Leclerc- Ferrari
- Lando Norris- McLaren
- Pierre Gasly- Alpine
- Max Verdtappen- Red Bull
- Liam Lawson- Racing Bulls
- Esteban Ocon- Haas
2026 F1 Japanese GP LIVE: Kimi Maintains Lead, Oscar Desperate To Regain P1
Kimi Antonelli is contantly maintaining his lead without even pit for once, the 19-year old is putting his best to keep the car in considtion. Meanehile, Piastri's tyre change strategy has costed him lossing the race lead to the Mercedes newbie.
2026 F1 Japanese GP LIVE: Hamilton Gains P3, George At P4
Just after the safety car exit, Hamilton has pushed past Russell gaining the third position on the track, just behind Oscar Piastri's McLaren.
2026 F1 Japanese GP LIVE: Safety Car Laps End
The safety car laps have ended and drivers are pushing hard, best for their advantage.
LAP 28/53
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 29, 2026
We are racing again!
Antonelli keeps the lead while behind Hamilton gets past Russell and up to third! #F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/Nld10z1Dd5
2026 F1 Japanese GP LIVE: Cars Under Safety Car
After the Bearman incident, the drivers had to narrow down under the Safety Car with Kimi Antonelli just behing the safety car, followed by Piastri, Russell and Hamilton.
2026 F1 Japanese GP LIVE: Ollie Bearman Ends Up Into The Wall
The stewarts have waved the yellow flag as Oliver Bearman's Haas has ended up into the wall.
LAP 22/53
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 29, 2026
Bearman into the barriers! 💥
⚠️ SAFETY CAR ⚠️#F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/yhlscJPGTP
2026 F1 Japanese GP LIVE: Lap 22 Driver Position
- George Russell - Mercedes
- Kimi Antonelli- Mercedes
- Lewis Hamilton- Ferrari
- Pierre Gasly- Alpine
- Oscar Piastri- McLaren
2026 F1 Japanese GP LIVE: Oscar Pits For Tyre Change, Russell Leads The Race
George Russell and Kimi Antonelli are leading the race after Piastri and others pitting for tyre change. Considering both the Mercedes drivers have not pitted even once, Oscar might gain his leader position back.
2026 F1 Japanese GP LIVE: Black And White Flag On Arvid Lindblad
Arvid Lindblad has got a black and white flag for moving under braking, putting Hadjar in a critical position.
2026 F1 Japanese GP LIVE: Charles Under Pressure From Kimi Antonelli
After gaining over Lando, Kimi Antonelli is now putting constant pressure on Charles Leclerc's Ferrari.
2026 F1 Japanese GP LIVE: Kimi Antonelli Outpaced Lando Norris
After struugling for more than 11 laps, Kimi Antonelli has now got a clean air in overtaking Lando Norris to stand fourth on the track.
2026 F1 Japanese GP LIVE: Top 5 Drivers On Lap 10
- Oscar Piastri- McLaren
- George Russell - Mercedes
- Charles Leclerc- Ferrari
- Lando Norris- McLaren
- Kimi Antonelli- Mercedes
2026 F1 Japanese GP LIVE: George Russell Taken Lead Only To Lose It In Seconds
With a better cornering speed, Geroge Russell took a lead. However, Oscar pushed past in just a few seconds putting the Mercedes to P2 again.
LAP 9 & 10/53
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 29, 2026
Russell gets past Piastri at the chicane but the Australian retakes the lead down the main straight #F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/5hsDgOFcHd
2026 F1 Japanese GP LIVE: Max Verstappen On Eighth
Pushing past Arvid Lindblad, Max Verstappen has taken up the 8th position on the track.
Russell gains a significant advantage with the battery deployment and has regained his second position, ready to put pressure on the race leader Oscar Piastri.
2026 F1 Japanese GP LIVE: Kimi Antonelli On Lando's Tail
Mercedes pole sitter is putting costant pressure on McLaren's Lando Norris for gaining the fifth position.
2026 F1 Japanese GP LIVE:
While the screens are glued to top position holders, down below the Racing Bulls rookie has swiftly surpassed Bortoleto and Hadjar to secure the 8th position.
2026 F1 Japanese GP LIVE: Oscar Piastri Takes The Lead
Just when the race started Kimi Antinelli was surpassed by Oscar Piastri putting the two Mercedes on 4th (George) and 6th (Kimi).
Watch the race start 🎥
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 29, 2026
A brilliant getaway for Piastri 💨#F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/NAUfrshrc6
2026 F1 Japanese GP LIVE: Lights Out And Away We Go!
The 2026 F1 Japenese GP has begins, with Kimi Antonelli starting from P1, followed by George Russell, Oscar Piastri, Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris in the top 5.
2026 F1 Japanese GP LIVE: Formation Lap Begins
The drivers are out for the formation lap for getting a first-hand revision of the Suzuka international circuit and car inputs.
2026 F1 Japanese GP LIVE: Race Begins Soon
The drivers have lined up on their respective grid positions, and the 2026 Japenese GP is set to begin soon.
Here's a detailed list of the driver position for the 2026 Japanese GP, ahead of the race start at the Suzuka International Circuit:
- Kimi Antonelli- Mercedes
- George Russell - Mercedes
- Oscar Piastri- McLaren
- Charles Leclerc- Ferrari
- Lando Norris- McLaren
- Lewis Hamilton- Ferrari
- Pierre Gasly- Alpine
- Isack Hadjar- Red Bull
- Gabriel Bortoleto- Audi
- Arvid Lindblad- Racing Bulls
- Max Verdtappen- Red Bull
- Esteban Ocon- Haas
- Nico Hulkenberg- Audi
- Liam Lawson- Racing Bulls
- Franco Colapinto- Alpine
- Carlos Sainz- Williams
- Alex Albon- Williams
- Oliver Bearman- Haas
- Sergio Perez- Cadillac
- Valtteri Bottas- Cadillac
- Fernando Alonso- Aston Martin
- Lance Stroll- Aston Martin
2026 F1 Japanese GP LIVE: Max Verstappen's Position On The Grid
The Red Bull lead man Max Verstappen had to settle for P11 on the grid, surprisinging below Racing Bulls rookie Arvind Lindblad on P10.
2026 F1 Japanese GP LIVE: Lando And Charles On Three-Four
Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri stands on the third grid, followed by Charles on fourth, in his Ferrari.
2026 F1 Japanese GP LIVE: Mercedes Lockout The Front Row
Meanwhile, Kimi's Mercedes teammate- George Russell secured the second position in qualifying leading a Mercedes 1-2 lockout.
2026 F1 Japanese GP LIVE: Kimi Antonelli Grabs Pole In Qualifying
Kimi Antonelli has secured another pole in the Japenese GP Qulaifying, yesterday, placing him on the first grid for the start of the 2026 Japenese GP main race.
