Kimi Antonelli, the youngest driver to take pole position in history, beat George Russell to secure his position at the Japanese Grand Prix. Despite a last lap being delayed due to a lock-up, Antonelli was able to improve on his final run but lost time. This makes him a serious threat to Russell in the championship, with the two teams starting the race separated by four points. McLaren's performance has been praised by team manager Michael Peltich, who believes they are closer to Mercedes but not yet close to the championship.