F1 2026: Antonelli on pole for US Grand Prix with World Championship in sight

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli celebrates after securing pole position for the United States Grand Prix. | Photo Credit: AP

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 ‌on Sunday.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen joined the ‌20-year-old ⁠Italian on the front row after Saturday’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 Sunday.

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.

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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. 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,” he added.