Antonelli takes Austin pole, 179 thousandths clear of Verstappen, with title in reach

Pole lap in Austin

Kimi Antonelli, the 20-year-old Mercedes driver from Bologna, took pole for the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. He set 1:34.035 in Q3 on Saturday, 24 October, 179 thousandths of a second ahead of Max Verstappen, whose Red Bull will share the front row with him. Isack Hadjar was third for Red Bull with 1:34.250, and Charles Leclerc fourth for Ferrari. Lewis Hamilton lines up fifth and George Russell sixth, while the McLaren cars of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris start seventh and eighth. Ferrari's wait for its first pole since early August 2025, at Hungary, continues.

How qualifying unfolded

Ferrari's advantage seen in practice faded from Q1, when the McLaren cars set the early pace. Verstappen moved into the front group in Q2. Hamilton had topped the third free practice in 1:34.893, with Antonelli fourth, but the Mercedes had struggled to find a fast lap before qualifying. Track limits cost several drivers their final attempt as they chased a tenth of a second. A slide caused by the wind forced Antonelli to lift on his final lap, after his pole time was already set.

Title maths

Before the race, Antonelli led the drivers' standings on 340 points, with Russell on 238 and Hamilton on 229, according to ANSA. Russell was 102 points behind him and Hamilton 111 points behind. ANSA reports that a 125-point lead over Russell after the Texas race would give Antonelli the title mathematically. The calendar is not settled, because the Qatar and Abu Dhabi rounds depend on the situation in the Middle East. ANSA also reports that if both rounds were cancelled, a single replacement race at Imola could be confirmed. Six races remained after Austin, with Mexico next, a week later Brazil, and then Las Vegas, Losail and Yas Marina.

Antonelli's reaction

After the lap, Antonelli said the team had done the pole and would now try to win, and his words were translated from Italian.

We got pole and now we will try to win. But Max has been very fast and it will not be simple.

He said he would try to get a good start and did not appear to be focused on what his rivals would do. ANSA reported that he was not obsessed with the title, with Mexico the following week as the next possible chance to clinch it.

Midfield and the Spanish drivers

Fernando Alonso qualified 12th for Aston Martin, his best grid position of the year, after grid penalties for engine changes moved him up. A fire briefly broke out at the rear of his car during Q1, but he still passed the cut into Q2. Carlos Sainz did not get past Q1 with Williams and starts 17th, also helped by grid penalties. Nico Hülkenberg qualified 12th for Audi and starts 11th, while Gabriel Bortoleto starts from the back, 22nd, after several power unit components were changed.

What comes next

The race is on Sunday, 25 October, with lights out at 21:00 Swiss time, the same as in Warsaw. A win for Antonelli and a result for his rivals will determine whether the title is decided that day. If it is not, the calendar continues in Mexico, then Brazil seven days later, and then Las Vegas, Losail and Yas Marina.