Antonelli secures pole at United States Grand Prix, could clinch title

Antonelli claims pole in Austin

At the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli surprised the field by taking pole position with a lap time of 1:34.035 seconds. He beat Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by 0.179 seconds, the fastest lap of the weekend. Antonelli’s pole was the most unexpected of his seven poles this season, as he emerged from the back of Q3 to overtake Verstappen after a strong first lap.

Verstappen, who had been battling Ferrari for the front row, finished second. His teammate Isack Hadjar took third, just 0.036 seconds behind Antonelli. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were pushed to fourth and fifth respectively, while George Russell started sixth.

Antonelli, who is 20 years old, said he was delighted to be back on pole after his first pole since the Belgian Grand Prix in July. He added that a win in Austin would give him a chance to become Formula 1’s youngest champion.

Background

Antonelli has secured seven poles this season, but the pole at Austin was the most surprising. Ferrari had topped all three practice sessions, and Verstappen had appeared strong through the second part of qualifying. Antonelli’s engineer, Peter Bonnington, noted that the driver’s first lap in Q3 was enough to secure the front‑row spot.

The United States Grand Prix is the final race of the season. With five rounds remaining, Antonelli’s position on the grid places him in a strong position to claim the title if he wins and other results go his way. Lewis Hamilton, who qualified fifth, would need to finish lower than fourth, while George Russell, who started sixth, would need to finish no higher than eighth for Antonelli’s championship hopes to be confirmed.

Why it matters

The outcome of the race will decide whether Antonelli becomes Formula 1’s youngest world champion. A victory would also cement Mercedes’ dominance in the championship, as the team has been strong throughout the season.

The pole position also affects the starting grid for the race, giving Antonelli a clear track ahead of Verstappen and the other front‑row drivers. The tight nature of the Austin circuit means that a good start and pace are crucial, and Antonelli acknowledged that the race would be challenging.

The result of the race will also impact the standings for Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, who are still in contention for the title. Hamilton’s fifth‑place qualification already places him below the threshold needed for Antonelli to win the championship, while Russell’s sixth‑place start requires him to finish no higher than eighth.

What happens next

The race is scheduled for Sunday, with the championship title on the line. Antonelli will need to win the race and rely on the finishing positions of Hamilton and Russell to secure the championship. No further decisions or dates have been announced beyond the race itself.

The event will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event at 8 pm, with a build‑up from 6:30 pm. The race will also be available on the BBC Sport website and app, with live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live.

The next steps for the drivers and teams will be determined by the race results, which will be announced at the end of the event.