Mercedes lockout front row with Oscar Piastri third after Max Verstappen is knocked out of qualifying early in Suzuka

SUZUKA, Japan (AP) — The Japanese Grand Prix is only the third race of the new Formula 1 season, but it will be last one for five weeks with events in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia called off because of the war in Iran.

FIA officials inspected Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari SF-26 ahead of Sunday's race at the 2026 F1 Japanese Grand Prix.

Two races in, and the 2026 season already has no clear favorite. Kimi Antonelli took his first career win in Shanghai, Russell finished second, and Mercedes now leads both championships. Russell heads into Suzuka with 51 points,

F1’s history in Japan dates back to the 1970s, when it competed at Fuji Speedway, the track that decided the 1976 world championship (Mario Andretti won the race, but James Hunt took the title, beating Niki Lauda by one point). The track, though, was dangerous and was subject to unpredictable rain.

Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli scores a second career pole position in Suzuka after going fastest in qualifying. Full 2026 F1 Japanese Grand Prix starting grid.

Kimi Antonelli delivered an absolute masterclass on Saturday, putting his Mercedes on pole position for the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix with a blistering time of 1:28.778. Usually, when Formula 1 posts the official onboard video of a pole lap,

Formula One live coverage from the Japanese Grand Prix after the FIA launched an investigation into Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen after an alleged incident