Kimi Antonelli took pole position for the United States Grand Prix, putting himself in contention to become Formula One's youngest world champion this weekend.
The Italian outpaced Max Verstappen, winner of the last two races, by 0.179 seconds, with Isack Hadjar third in the second Red Bull. Ferrari, who had topped all three practice sessions, again struggled in qualifying, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton managing only fourth and fifth.
Title within Reach
For Antonelli to clinch the crown in Texas, he must win Sunday's race and hope George Russell finishes lower than ninth and Hamilton lower than fifth. The 20-year-old holds a 102-point lead with 150 points still available ahead of the race at the Circuit of the Americas.
“I just need to keep doing my job. I feel I can enjoy it a bit more because I am in a good position,” Antonelli said. “I have a great group of people around me and a lot of friends with me. We play cards together in the evenings and that helps you to stay relaxed.”
Ferrari's Qualifying Woes
Ferrari have not been on pole since Leclerc in Hungary in 2025, while Hamilton's wait for top spot extends to that same race two years earlier – 1,190 days ago. Hamilton, 41, whose sole Ferrari win came in Barcelona in June, and Leclerc were again unable to deliver in Q3.
Leclerc lamented their struggles, saying: “We lost one or two degrees of track temp and, for us, it was night and day different and already from the out lap I felt I was having lots of difficulties. It's a shame that it happened in Q3 because I strongly believe that we had the pace to be fighting in front but unfortunately not today again.”
Qualifying Highlights
Russell struggled and will line up sixth, while Oscar Piastri and Norris qualified seventh and eighth. Both Williams were knocked out in Q1, with Alex Albon fuming “what a s**tshow”. Lando Norris topped the opening run, but McLaren chief executive Zak Brown told Sky Sports that Ferrari were “in a league of their own”.
Hamilton improved marginally on his final run to clinch fifth, but serious questions will be asked in the Ferrari garage, with president John Elkann watching on and speculation mounting over the future of boss Fred Vasseur.
