US Grand Prix qualifying: Antonelli beats Verstappen to Austin pole on potential title weekend

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli put himself in the best possible position to wrap up the 2026 Formula 1 title, taking pole position for the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas on Saturday. The Mercedes driver set a 1:34.035 in Q3, which was enough to beat Red Bull's Max Verstappen by 0.179 seconds. For fans in Malaysia, the 56-lap race starts at 4am on Monday, 26 October.

A pole few saw coming

Ferrari had set the pace in all three practice sessions, and Verstappen looked like the main threat to the red cars for most of the weekend. Antonelli had been fourth in final practice, three tenths off Lewis Hamilton, but he found time when it mattered in the shootout. It is his seventh pole of the season.

Verstappen said his final runs were short of grip and balance, and he could not improve on his first Q3 effort. Isack Hadjar made it two Red Bulls in the top three, just 0.215s off pole, despite saying he struggled to set the car up on the soft tyre all weekend. After the session, Antonelli said Verstappen had been very quick and that Sunday would not be easy.

Top 10 in Q3

1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) 1:34.035
2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.179s
3. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) +0.215s
4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.232s
5. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) +0.276s
6. George Russell (Mercedes) +0.441s
7. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +0.768s
8. Lando Norris (McLaren) +1.014s
9. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)
10. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)

Norris had gone faster on his final lap, but the time was deleted for exceeding track limits, dropping him behind his McLaren teammate. Russell, the second-placed driver in the championship, will start sixth, a result described as frustrating for him given what is at stake.

Grid penalties reshape the midfield

Three drivers carry power-unit penalties into the race. Racing Bulls rookie Lindblad drops five places to 14th for using a sixth internal combustion engine of the year. Alpine's Franco Colapinto takes a 10-place drop for a fourth control electronics unit and starts 21st. Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto, whose car received a raft of new power-unit components, goes to the back of the grid.

That promotes Lawson to ninth and Pierre Gasly to tenth. Gasly had missed Q3 by just 0.022s. Nico Hulkenberg, Fernando Alonso and Ollie Bearman fill the next three places. At the other end, both Williams cars went out in Q1, with Carlos Sainz 19th and Alex Albon 20th, while the Cadillac pair of Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas were the slowest two in the session.

What pole means for Sunday

Antonelli arrived in Austin 102 points clear of Russell with six rounds left. Starting from pole gives him a clear chance to win, which is the first condition he needs to clinch the title in Texas. He also needs Russell to finish ninth or lower and Hamilton fifth or lower. With Russell sixth and Hamilton fifth on the grid, the contest behind the leader will matter as much as the fight for victory.

Key takeaways

• Antonelli took pole with a 1:34.035, his seventh pole of 2026.
• Verstappen and Hadjar gave Red Bull second and third, with Ferrari on row two and row three.
• Norris lost his best Q3 lap to track limits and starts eighth.
• Lindblad, Colapinto and Bortoleto all take grid penalties for power-unit parts.
• The race starts at 4am Monday, Malaysia time.

FAQ

Who is on pole for the 2026 United States Grand Prix? Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes, with a 1:34.035, ahead of Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar.

What time does the US Grand Prix start in Malaysia? Lights out is 3pm local time in Austin on Sunday, which is 4am on Monday, 26 October in Malaysia.

Why do Lindblad, Colapinto and Bortoleto start lower than they qualified? All three exceeded their season allocation of power-unit components and received grid penalties.

Sources: Formula1.com, The Race, Sky Sports, Motorsport Week, GrandPrix247, Crash.net, PlanetF1