Toto Wolff reveals key engineer instruction behind Kimi Antonelli's Suzuka pole

Mercedes junior driver Kimi Antonelli secured a commanding pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix, with team principal Toto Wolff revealing the simple but crucial radio instruction from engineer Peter 'Bono' Bonnington that set it up. Antonelli's first run in Q3 was so strong it held for pole, marking Mercedes' first at Suzuka since 2018 and the 50th pole for an Italian driver in F1.

Why it matters:

A pole position at a demanding, high-speed circuit like Suzuka is a major statement of a driver's raw speed and car control. For Antonelli, a highly touted rookie, delivering such a dominant performance—outpacing established teammate George Russell by nearly three-tenths—underlines his potential and growing confidence within the Mercedes team. It also provides a vital morale boost for Mercedes, ending a long pole drought at a circuit that rewards aerodynamic efficiency.

The details:

• Antonelli's pole was built on a dominant weekend, where he consistently led the timesheets by a significant margin over Russell through practice and qualifying.
• The decisive moment came from the pit wall. According to Wolff, Bonnington instructed Antonelli to simply "put a banker in" on his first Q3 run—a lap meant to secure a solid time before pushing for an ultimate lap.
• That first lap was so fast that it remained unbeaten. Neither Antonelli, who made a small error on his second attempt, nor the other top contenders could improve, locking in his second career pole.
• Wolff highlighted Antonelli's composure, noting the driver doesn't "put himself under too much pressure" during sessions, which was evident in his execution of the critical lap.
• For his part, Antonelli described the session as "clean" and expressed feeling "very good in the car," crediting his comfort for the result.

What's next:

All focus now shifts to converting pole into a race win. Antonelli stated his immediate plan is to "focus on the race," where tire management and strategy on Suzuka's abrasive surface will be paramount. For Mercedes, the challenge is to support both drivers in translating their strong qualifying pace into a double podium finish, capitalizing on this momentum to close the gap in the constructors' championship.