MOTORSPORT – Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli will start on pole position for a US Grand Prix that could make him Formula One’s youngest world champion if results go his way today.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen joined the 20-year-old Italian on the front row after yesterday’s qualifying at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas with teammate Isack Hadjar qualifying third and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc completing the second row.
Antonelli has a 102-point lead in the championship over closest rival and teammate George Russell, who qualified only sixth, with 125 points still to be won after today.
To take the title, the Italian will need to win with Russell and Ferrari’s seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton finishing no higher than ninth or fifth respectively.
Hamilton qualified fifth after setting the fastest time in final practice.
The pole was Antonelli’s first since Belgium in July and he found the speed just when he needed it after Ferrari had dominated practice.
“It feels good to be back,” he said over the team radio after a gusty session.
“We got pole, so we will try to win tomorrow,” he added in comments to the crowd after stepping out of the car.
“Max has been very quick and Isack did an incredible job, so it won’t be easy. We will try to get a good start and hopefully we lead into Turn One, then set the pace, even though it will be very tight.”
The McLaren duo of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris qualified seventh and eighth ahead of the Racing Bulls. Liam Lawson elected not to run a lap in Q3 to save tires for the race, knowing that he would advance one position with his teammate Arvid Lindblad’s ten-place grid penalty. Lindblad qualified ninth and will start 19th.
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