KIMI Antonelli could hardly have picked a better time to find another gear.
With his first Formula 1 world championship within reach, the Mercedes youngster delivered when it mattered most, beating Max Verstappen to pole position for the United States Grand Prix and giving himself a prime opportunity to move closer to the title in Austin.
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Antonelli clocked 1:34.035 seconds at the Circuit of the Americas on Saturday, October 24, edging Verstappen by 0.179 seconds as the Red Bull driver settled for second. Isack Hadjar completed the top three, giving Red Bull two cars in the top three.
The pole was Antonelli's seventh of the 2026 season and his first since the Belgian Grand Prix in July, a timely statement on a weekend when the 20-year-old could become Formula 1's youngest world champion.
But the Italian knows the job is far from finished.
“Max has been very quick, and also Isack did an incredible job in Qualifying,” Antonelli said. “It’s not going to be easy but we’ll try to get a good start and hopefully lead into Turn 1.”
Antonelli's first flying lap in Q3 proved decisive. Despite abandoning his second attempt after a mistake in the final sector, he held on to the top spot as his rivals failed to find the time needed to dislodge him.
Gusty, unpredictable winds made the final shootout particularly challenging, with the changing balance of the cars complicating the drivers' final pushes.
Verstappen, who had looked competitive throughout qualifying, could not improve enough to deny Mercedes the front row. His final effort was also deleted for a track-limits infringement.
Red Bull nevertheless emerged with a strong result, with Hadjar finishing third in 1:34.250, just 0.215 seconds off pole.
Ferrari, meanwhile, failed to turn its practice dominance into a shot at the front row. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton had topped the three practice sessions between them, but they wound up fourth and fifth in qualifying, respectively.
Leclerc was just 0.232 seconds behind Antonelli, with Hamilton another 0.044 seconds back.
George Russell qualified sixth in the second Mercedes, ahead of McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. Norris initially appeared to have secured a higher grid position, but a deleted lap for exceeding track limits dropped him to eighth.
How Kimi can win in Austin
The stakes are even higher for Antonelli on race day. He can clinch the championship in Austin if he wins, Russell finishes ninth or lower, and Hamilton ends up outside the top four.
Russell's sixth-place qualifying result leaves the title permutations open, while Hamilton's fifth-place start means Antonelli will need both rivals' results to fall his way.
Pole position gives the Mercedes driver the best possible platform. Turning it into a victory, however, will require him to withstand a Red Bull challenge from the moment the lights go out.
For Antonelli, the opportunity is there. Now comes the harder part.
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