Antonelli on pole in Japan as Mercedes lock out front row

SUZUKA, Japan, March 28 : Kimi Antonelli took pole position at the Japanese Grand Prix on Saturday as his Mercedes team locked out the front row for the third time in three races.

Formula One championship leader George Russell qualified second at Suzuka as Antonelli celebrated the 50th pole for an Italian driver and his second in a row.

McLaren's Oscar Piastri qualified third with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc fourth.

(Writing by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Peter Rutherford)