Ferrari topped every practice session. Most experts had tipped Max Verstappen for pole. And yet, when the wind settled at the Circuit of the Americas, it was 20-year-old Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes sitting at the front of the grid, on the very weekend he can wrap up the Formula 1 world championship.
Antonelli clocked 1:34.035 in Q3 on Saturday, October 24, to take pole for the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen finished 0.179 seconds back in second, with teammate Isack Hadjar third. The race is on Sunday, October 25, and for Indian fans it starts at 1:30 AM IST on Monday, October 26. If Antonelli wins and two other results fall his way, he will be crowned champion with five rounds still to go.
Quick Facts
- Who: Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), championship leader
- What: Pole position for the 2026 United States Grand Prix, his seventh pole of the season
- Pole time: 1:34.035, 0.179s ahead of Max Verstappen
- Where: Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas
- Race start in India: 1:30 AM IST, Monday, October 26 (56 laps)
- Watch in India: FanCode and F1 TV Pro
- Title lead: 102 points over George Russell before Sunday
How Antonelli Grabbed the US Grand Prix Pole
This was not a weekend where Mercedes looked like the team to beat. Ferrari led all three practice sessions and arrived at qualifying as the favourites. Instead, the session turned on gusty, unpredictable wind that made Q3 a lottery for car balance.
Antonelli’s first Q3 run proved good enough. Neither he nor Verstappen improved on their second flying lap, and Verstappen’s final effort was deleted anyway for running wide at Turn 19. Hadjar’s last lap was also scrapped, but reports agree neither deletion changed the order at the front.
“We got pole, so we will try to win tomorrow,” Antonelli said afterwards, keeping it simple. Verstappen was less cheerful, describing his Q3 as “not good” and saying he had no grip on either set of tyres.
US GP 2026 Starting Grid: Top 10
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), 1:34.035
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull), +0.179s
- Isack Hadjar (Red Bull), +0.215s
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), +0.232s
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), +0.276s
- George Russell (Mercedes), +0.441s
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren), +0.768s
- Lando Norris (McLaren), +1.014s
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
- Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) qualified ninth but takes a five-place grid penalty for exceeding his engine component allowance
Norris lost his final Q3 lap to track limits too, which dropped him from sixth to eighth. Ferrari’s Leclerc put the team’s fade mostly down to tyres and track temperature, while Hamilton was heard on team radio wondering whether rivals had “turned up their engines”.
Can Antonelli Win the F1 Title in Austin? The Exact Maths
Here is where it gets exciting. According to Grande Premio’s breakdown, the standings before Sunday read: Antonelli 340 points, Russell 238, Hamilton 229 and Verstappen 221. After Austin, five Grands Prix and 125 points remain.
For Antonelli to be champion on Sunday, all three of these need to happen:
- Antonelli wins the race. Second place is not enough.
- George Russell finishes ninth or lower. His Mercedes teammate starts sixth.
- Lewis Hamilton finishes fifth or lower. He starts fifth.
Sky Sports framed it the other way round: Russell simply needs a top-eight finish to stop the party, assuming Antonelli wins. If Verstappen wins, the title fight moves on to Mexico City. Put simply, a pole for Antonelli is only step one. He also needs his own teammate to have a rough afternoon.
Youngest F1 Champion Record Is on the Line
Sky Sports describes Antonelli as all but certain to become Formula 1’s youngest ever champion, whether it happens in Texas or a few weeks later. The current record belongs to Sebastian Vettel, who won the 2010 title aged 23 years and 134 days. Antonelli, born in August 2006, is 20.
That is quite a jump for a driver who only joined Mercedes as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement. Seven poles this season and a 102-point cushion show how fast he has grown into the seat.
How to Watch the US Grand Prix in India
The 56-lap race starts at 3 PM local time in Austin, which is 1:30 AM IST on Monday, October 26. FanCode holds the streaming rights in India, and F1 TV Pro is the other option. If you plan to stay up, set an alarm a little early: the Turn 1 run from pole, with Verstappen alongside, could settle a lot within seconds.
Results and the latest standings will be on the official Formula 1 results page.
What We Don’t Know Yet
Whether Ferrari’s strong practice pace returns on Sunday is the big unknown, along with how the gusty wind behaves in the race. Any penalties or post-race changes could also shift the title maths. The race had not started when this article was published.
Our Take
Pole in a Mercedes that nobody expected to be quick is the kind of lap champions put together. Still, the title is out of his hands unless Russell and Hamilton slip back, so do not be surprised if the celebration waits for Mexico. Either way, a 20-year-old leading the sport by 102 points is a story Formula 1 has never had before.
FAQs
Who is on pole for the 2026 US Grand Prix?
Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes, with a 1:34.035 lap. Max Verstappen starts second and Isack Hadjar third.
What time is the US Grand Prix in India?
The race starts at 1:30 AM IST on Monday, October 26, streaming on FanCode and F1 TV Pro.
Can Antonelli win the championship in Austin?
Yes, but only if he wins the race, Russell finishes ninth or lower, and Hamilton finishes fifth or lower.
Who is the youngest F1 world champion?
Sebastian Vettel, who won the 2010 title at 23 years and 134 days. Antonelli, 20, is on course to break that record.
Where does George Russell start in Austin?
Russell qualified sixth, 0.441 seconds behind his teammate.
Based on reporting by Sky Sports, Grande Premio, ESPN and Motorsport Week.
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