Kimi Antonelli took pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix ahead of team-mate George Russell on Saturday as Mercedes tightened their stranglehold on the new Formula One season.

The Silver Arrows have claimed one-two finishes at both grands prix so far this year and they were again ahead of the field in dry conditions in Suzuka.

The 19-year-old Italian Antonelli 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 and 28.778 seconds.

Early championship leader Russell finished 0.298sec behind while McLaren's Oscar Piastri was third and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was fourth.

"Super-happy with the session, it was a good one, it was a clean one," said Antonelli, who won in Shanghai for his maiden grand prix victory.

"I felt very good in the car and every run was improving."

Russell said he was struggling with his car for most of the qualifying session but still had enough pace to get the job done.

"We were both really fast all weekend, we made some adjustments and then at the beginning of the qualifying we were nowhere," said the Briton.

"Race is tomorrow and still a lot to play for."

McLaren's world champion Lando Norris was fifth, followed by Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton and Alpine's Pierre Gasly.

Max Verstappen, who has won the Japanese Grand Prix for the past four years, dropped out in Q2 and will start 11th on the grid.

Red Bull's Verstappen, a four-time world champion, took pole last year with a track-record lap time.

Verstappen, who crashed out in Q3 in the season-opener in Australia, said his car was "completely undriveable".

"The car never turns mid-corner and we oversteer a lot on entries," the Dutchman said.

"It is really difficult, unpredictable." (AFP)



Edited by Thomas McAlinden