What the teams have said – qualify for the Japanese Grand Prix 2025

Mercedes

Russell looked quickly in final training again and impressed in the early qualification stadiums. But when everyone increased the anti-retard in the third quarter, Russell did not have the pace to compete for the two front rows. However, the margins were tight – Russell was only 0.019 behind Leclerc. As for Antonelli, he had to use two sets of softs to pass through the first quarter, while he was fighting against the heating of tires. But he understood things in the third quarter and made his only tour count on new softs when he bags the best result of the season.

George Russell, 5th, 1: 27.318

“To finish P5 feels definitely as an underperformance for us today. We seem strong all weekend and I think we had a car that could have been in the fight for the first row. Unfortunately, we simply did not gather the tour when critical. two.

“Although we are naturally disappointed, P5 is not a terrible starting point. We have had a good rhythm all weekend and I feel confident in the car. Let’s see what the weather conditions bring tomorrow but, humid or dry, I think we can be in the running for a podium. If it is wet, it is an even more difficult circuit. We have seen in search of chaotic race, Chaotic race, circumstances, aspire to the way the breed is chaotic.

Kimi Antonelli, 6th, 1: 27.55

“I am satisfied with the way my session took place. I did not gather the tour because I knew that I needed throughout the training. I did not have much confidence by qualifying therefore, but we continued to work hard. Bono was a great support, with Valtteri who gave me a lot of advice. I had improved this, so we might have started a little further.

“I can’t wait for tomorrow. With the forecasts, it could be an interesting race to come. It would certainly not bother me a little rain! I have a lot of data to look at this evening to see where we can bring other improvements. I will continue to strengthen my confidence on the track and I hope that we can bring good points tomorrow.”

Bradley Lord, team representative

“The qualifications left us mixed feelings. George delivered a solid weekend, presenting himself in the first three almost each time he was on the right track. In the cooling temperatures at the end of the session, however, his knees were simply not gathered. He lost more than two tent two and, although he made earnings later, they were enough to initial.

“For Kimi, the weekend was to build his performance step by step. It was difficult to find a good pace due to the many red flags in practice, so the qualifications were the first time that he could really gather all the pieces.

“So we start from line three tomorrow, with the possibility that the race is affected by the rain in forecasts. It is always a demanding race for cars and drivers in the dry and even more if it is wet; we will have to be our best if we want to progress against cars in front.”

Andrew Shovlin, director of track engineering

“George is naturally frustrated by P5. Virtually every round he did this weekend put it in the first three, and most of the time in the first two. During his last race, we targeted temperatures that were too low on the external tours, and he lacked taking in the first turns. This caused an instant in turn two who actually ruined the Tour.

“On the side of Kimi, he was on a steep learning curve on this circuit from the very first session on Friday. He found enough with each race to go to Q3 and made a strong turn to align with George on the grid tomorrow.

“We expect rain during the night and in the morning, although it is not yet clear if it will be a wet race. If this is the case, then the qualification position is not terribly important. What will determine our finish result will be good communications and decision -making. If it is dry, then see what we are strong to fight for a podium if the rate of the race is as solid as Friday.