Antonelli secures pole for 2026 US Grand Prix
Kimi Antonelli earned pole position at the Circuit of the Americas, leading the front row ahead of Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar, and moving closer to a potential World Championship.
Key points
- Antonelli set a 1m 34.035 lap to claim his seventh career pole.
- Max Verstappen qualified second, with Isack Hadjar third.
- Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finished fourth and fifth.
- Antonelli has not taken pole since Spa-Francorchamps in July.
- The race will run the next day at 21:00.
Kimi Antonelli secured pole position for the 2026 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin. The Mercedes driver recorded a time of 1m 34.035 during the final qualifying session, marking his seventh career pole position.
Antonelli, who leads the World Championship, finished ahead of Max Verstappen, who completed the front row in second place. Isack Hadjar, Verstappen's Red Bull team-mate, claimed third place on the grid.
Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finished fourth and fifth, respectively. This result followed a period where the Ferrari team had dominated the three free practice sessions. Antonelli's qualifying performance was notable as he had not recorded a pole position since Spa-Francorchamps in July.
The race is scheduled for the following day at 21:00. Antonelli has the opportunity to become the youngest World Champion in Formula 1 history. To achieve this, he must win the race, while Lewis Hamilton must finish no better than fifth and George Russell no better than ninth.
Your questions, answered
Who qualified on pole for the 2026 US Grand Prix?
Kimi Antonelli qualified on pole with a time of 1m 34.035.
What positions did Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar finish in qualifying?
Verstappen qualified second and Hadjar third.
What are the conditions for Antonelli to become the youngest World Champion?
He must win the race while Lewis Hamilton finishes no better than fifth and George Russell no better than ninth.
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