Antonelli faces Verstappen challenge after stunning US GP qualifying

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli secured pole position for the United States Grand Prix in Austin, beating Max Verstappen by 0.179 seconds. Despite the strong qualifying performance, the Italian expects a tough race as he targets his maiden Formula One championship

Austin: Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli said he expected a challenge from Red Bull at the United States Grand Prix on Sunday after taking a surprise pole position in qualifying in Austin.

Antonelli beat Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by 0.179 seconds to top the Q3 timesheets, clocking 1:34.035 for his seventh pole position of the season at the Circuit of the Americas. He has a chance to make history in Austin by becoming the youngest-ever F1 champion. To do so, he needs not only to win the race but also for other results to go his way.

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With Red Bull and Ferrari posing a challenge in Austin, even a race win for Antonelli is far from assured, as Verstappen and his Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar start behind the championship leader.

Antonelli was pleased with his qualifying performance but knew that winning the race would not be easy.

“I’m very happy. It was a good qualifying. Having a clean run helped to build momentum. We didn’t make mistakes, and I’m very happy with that.

“I felt good in the car, especially in Q3. It was tricky with the wind because the balance was changing quite a lot from corner to corner, but that last lap was looking good.

“I pushed a little bit more and just lost it, which was a shame, but still very happy with the result and looking forward to tomorrow.”

The 20-year-old Italian acknowledged the challenge posed by the two Red Bull drivers starting behind him.

“We’ll try to win,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll get off the line well, and then hopefully we can set the pace and win the race, but it’s not going to be easy.

“Red Bull and Max have been very strong, and also Isack has been up there in qualifying. It’s not going to be easy out there, but we’re ready to do our best.”

Antonelli has an opportunity to clinch his maiden F1 title in Austin and break Sebastian Vettel’s record as the youngest F1 champion. To achieve that, he needs to win the race, while also hoping that teammate George Russell finishes ninth or lower and Lewis Hamilton finishes outside the top four.

That would secure him the 2026 F1 title with five races remaining after the US Grand Prix. Otherwise, his rivals would remain in contention. However, Antonelli holds a 102-point lead over his nearest rival, Russell, with only 150 points remaining to be won across the six scheduled races, including the US Grand Prix.