2026 Japanese GP Qualifying Results
Every car frozen on the finish line, with each gap to Kimi Antonelli’s pole shown to scale in real metres. Qualifying at Suzuka, round 3.
Open the interactive 3D Gap Visualizer →Japanese Grand Prix 2026 Qualifying: what happened
Kimi Antonelli took pole for the Japanese Grand Prix 2026 Qualifying with a 1:28.778 for Mercedes at Suzuka. George Russell (Mercedes) was 0.298s behind, and at racing speed that is 23.3 m of track between them as they crossed the line.
Oscar Piastri completed the top three for McLaren, 0.354s off Kimi Antonelli. Across the whole classified order the field spread out to 324.5 m, from Kimi Antonelli to Lance Stroll.
The closest call of the session was between Alexander Albon and Oliver Bearman: 0.002s apart, about 0.16 m at speed.
| # | Driver | Team | Lap time | Gap | Behind (to scale) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:28.778 | Pole | — |
| 2 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:29.076 | +0.298 | 23.3 m |
| 3 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:29.132 | +0.354 | 27.7 m |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:29.405 | +0.627 | 49.1 m |
| 5 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:29.409 | +0.631 | 49.4 m |
| 6 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:29.567 | +0.789 | 61.8 m |
| 7 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 1:29.691 | +0.913 | 71.5 m |
| 8 | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull Racing | 1:29.978 | +1.200 | 94.0 m |
| 9 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | 1:30.262 | +1.484 | 116.2 m |
| 10 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi | 1:30.274 | +1.496 | 117.2 m |
| 11 | Esteban Ocon | Haas F1 Team | 1:30.309 | +1.531 | 119.9 m |
| 12 | Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls | 1:30.319 | +1.541 | 120.7 m |
| 13 | Nico Hulkenberg | Audi | 1:30.387 | +1.609 | 126.0 m |
| 14 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 1:30.495 | +1.717 | 134.5 m |
| 15 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | 1:30.627 | +1.849 | 144.8 m |
| 16 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | 1:31.033 | +2.255 | 176.6 m |
| 17 | Alexander Albon | Williams | 1:31.088 | +2.310 | 180.9 m |
| 18 | Oliver Bearman | Haas F1 Team | 1:31.090 | +2.312 | 181.1 m |
| 19 | Sergio Perez | Cadillac | 1:32.206 | +3.428 | 268.5 m |
| 20 | Valtteri Bottas | Cadillac | 1:32.330 | +3.552 | 278.2 m |
| 21 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:32.646 | +3.868 | 303.0 m |
| 22 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:32.920 | +4.142 | 324.5 m |
How big is the gap, really?
Kimi Antonelli took qualifying pole at the Japanese Grand Prix 2026 with a 1:28.778. On the timesheet the field looks bunched into tenths, but at racing speed those tenths stretch out: from pole to Lance Stroll the field covers 324.5 m. Open the 3D visualizer to see it to scale, car by car.
Japanese Grand Prix 2026 Qualifying: your questions
- Who took pole at the Japanese Grand Prix 2026?
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) took pole at the Japanese Grand Prix 2026 qualifying with a 1:28.778 at Suzuka.
- How close was qualifying at the Japanese Grand Prix 2026?
- Kimi Antonelli beat George Russell to pole by 0.298s. At racing speed that margin is 23.3 m of track. Across the whole field, from pole to Lance Stroll in P22, the spread is 4.142s or 324.5 m.
- How far behind was George Russell at the Japanese Grand Prix 2026?
- George Russell (Mercedes) qualified P2 in qualifying at the Japanese Grand Prix 2026 with a 1:29.076, 0.298s behind Kimi Antonelli's pole. Converted to distance at racing speed, that is 23.3 m of track behind.
- How far behind was Oscar Piastri at the Japanese Grand Prix 2026?
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) qualified P3 in qualifying at the Japanese Grand Prix 2026 with a 1:29.132, 0.354s behind Kimi Antonelli's pole. Converted to distance at racing speed, that is 27.7 m of track behind.
- How far behind was Charles Leclerc at the Japanese Grand Prix 2026?
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) qualified P4 in qualifying at the Japanese Grand Prix 2026 with a 1:29.405, 0.627s behind Kimi Antonelli's pole. Converted to distance at racing speed, that is 49.1 m of track behind.
- How far behind was Lando Norris at the Japanese Grand Prix 2026?
- Lando Norris (McLaren) qualified P5 in qualifying at the Japanese Grand Prix 2026 with a 1:29.409, 0.631s behind Kimi Antonelli's pole. Converted to distance at racing speed, that is 49.4 m of track behind.
- How far behind was Lewis Hamilton at the Japanese Grand Prix 2026?
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) qualified P6 in qualifying at the Japanese Grand Prix 2026 with a 1:29.567, 0.789s behind Kimi Antonelli's pole. Converted to distance at racing speed, that is 61.8 m of track behind.
- How much is a tenth of a second in metres at Suzuka?
- On this lap a tenth of a second is worth roughly 7.8 m of track. That is why George Russell's 0.298s at the Japanese Grand Prix 2026 puts 23.3 m between the cars on the finish line.