Summary

  • Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli takes pole for Japanese Grand Prix

  • Russell second, Piastri third and Leclerc fourth

  • Norris fifth and Hamilton sixth

  • Max Verstappen to start 11th after being knocked out in Q2

  • Haas' Oliver Bearman out in Q1

  • Select audio icon tab for Sports Extra commentary (UK only)

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Live Reporting

Lorraine McKenna

  1. Get Involved

    Select 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    Andy: At what point do Red Bull start considering Lindblad to replace their underperforming #2 driver?

  2. 'It's become undriveable'

    Max Verstappen speaking to Sky Sports after being knocked out in Q2: "The car jumps at every corner, it's really difficult, unpredictable. We thought we'd fixed it but it's become undriveable. I'm driving with a different air package as well. it just keeps jumping on the corners."

    "We have problems that I can't explain in detail here, it's just got to a point where it's undriveable."

  3. Kimi Antonelli is on provisional pole position but the Italian locks up at the hairpin in the middle sector. Can George Russell take advatnage? No he can't! Antonelli improves to go 0.298 seconds quicker than the Briton, who stays second.

  4. Get Involved

    Select 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

    Rachel: This is a bit more unpredictable than I thought it would be - well worth the early start!

  5. FansGetty Images

    The Japanese Grand Prix fans never disappoint when it comes to outfits at Suzuka, with every driver represented in the grandstands. The top three so far in Q3 are Kimi Antonelli, George Russell and Oscar Piastri.

    Who is taking pole position this morning? Here we go again...

  6. Alice Powell
    British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Isack Hadjar is doing a really solid job. He's got talent and he's been really competitive. Red Bull will be really pleased to have him sailing through to Q3.

  7. Lewis Hamilton is sixth on the timesheets after those runs with Red Bull's Isack Hadjar seventh, the Alpine of Pierre Gasly in eighth, Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto in ninth and rookie Arvid Lindblad in 10th place.

  8. Antonelli to the top

    The opening lap time is banked by Kimi Antonelli and the 19-year-old is into the 1:28s with a time of 1:28.778. Mercedes team-mate George Russell doesn't have the pace to match him but he is on the front row in second, more than two tenths behind the Italian.

    Oscar Piastri is third, world champion Lando Norris is fourth and Charles Leclerc is fifth.

  9. Alice Powell
    British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    NorrisGetty Images

    Lando Norris has been lacking. He's missed track time over this week but he's been lagging behind his team-mate in the last couple of race weekends.

  10. Team radio - Lindblad to Racing Bulls

    Lindblad: "Come on mate, that's got to be a good one!"

    Engineer: "Yeah mate, that's done. We're in Q3."

    Lindblad: "Come on!"

  11. Harry Benjamin
    BBC F1 Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Max Verstappen's loss is Arvid Lindblad's gain. What an impressive qualifying it's been so far. He's never been to this track before.

  12. Go! Go! Go!

    George Russell isn't happy with his Mercedes today but team-mate Kimi Antonelli is flying. Is the Italian teenager's fight for pole position against Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri this weekend?

    Q3 is green.

  13. Alice Powell
    British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    LindbladGetty Images

    Arvid Lindblad, take a bow. He is four tenths quicker than his team-mate. He's done a great job sailing through. That was very tame, I was expecting more frustration from Verstappen.

  14. Max Verstappen has won from pole position the past four Japanese Grands Prix but on Sunday, the four-time world champion will start 10th on the grid at Suzuka, behind British rookie Arvid Lindblad in the Racing Bulls and his new Red Bull team-mate Isack Hadjar.

  15. Team radio - Verstappen to Red Bull

    "I think there's something wrong with the car mate. It's completely undriveable suddenly in this qualifying. Jumping in high speed on the rear suddenly."

  16. Out in Q2

    11. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

    12. Esteban Ocon (Haas)

    13. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi)

    14. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)

    15. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)

    16. Carlos Sainz (Williams)

  17. Verstappen out in Q2

    VerstappenGetty Images

    Nico Hulkenberg is trying to save his Audi from elimination but the German driver can't improve and is in.12th place.

    The other Audi of Gabriel Bortoleto goes eighth quickest, while Brit rookie Arvid Lindblad goes 10th fastest, knocking out Max Verstappen!

  18. Team radio - Russell to Mercedes

    Russell: "I think we're missing something here, we couldn't lose this much pace. Have a look through everything."

  19. Leclerc setting pace

    George Russell is third behond Oscar Piastri and the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc, who jumps above the McLaren with a time of 1:29.303. The Mercedes driver calls base to ask why the car is losing so much pace.

    Max Verstappen is on the limit in 10th place, just as his Red Bull team-mate Isack Hadjar slips into ninth.

  20. Alice Powell
    British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    It looks like if Antonelli were to bolt on a new set of soft tyres, that would give more than three tenths advantage.