Andrea Kimi Antonelli secured pole position at the 2026 Formula 1® United States Grand Prix with a lap time of 1m34.035s, narrowly beating Max Verstappen in a competitive qualifying session at the Circuit of the Americas. This marks Antonelli’s seventh pole of the season and his first since the break before the Austrian Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen qualified second, just 0.179 seconds behind Antonelli, while Isack Hadjar took third place, completing a strong showing for Red Bull Racing. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton qualified fourth and fifth respectively, with George Russell in sixth, a result that fell short of expectations for the Mercedes driver. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris secured seventh and eighth places, although Norris dropped two grid spots due to a lap time deletion for exceeding track limits.
The qualifying session saw Charles Leclerc set the fastest time in Q2 but he was unable to improve in the final phase. Racing Bulls drivers Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad qualified ninth and tenth, with Lindblad facing a five-place grid penalty for a new combustion engine. Lawson did not participate in Q3 to protect Lindblad’s position. Several drivers, including Pierre Gasly, Nico Hulkenberg, Gabriel Bortoleto, Franco Colapinto, Fernando Alonso, and Oliver Bearman, were eliminated in Q2, with Bortoleto and Colapinto also carrying grid penalties for power unit and electronics changes.
Lando Norris was the fastest driver in Q1, while Williams continued to struggle, finishing near the back of the field. The qualifying results position Antonelli to potentially clinch the 2026 World Championship this weekend if he wins the race and his Mercedes teammate Russell finishes ninth or lower. However, the race outcome and championship scenarios remain open at this stage.
The session highlighted the close competition among the top teams, with Mercedes, Red Bull Racing, Ferrari, McLaren, and Racing Bulls all represented in the top ten. Penalties related to power unit changes affected several drivers’ starting positions, reflecting ongoing technical developments and strategic decisions within the teams.
George Russell’s sixth place was a notable underperformance compared to his teammate Antonelli’s pole, while Verstappen and Hadjar demonstrated Red Bull Racing’s continued pace. Ferrari’s Leclerc and Hamilton showed solid qualifying speed, though Leclerc’s inability to improve in Q3 limited his starting position. McLaren’s drivers maintained consistent form, despite Norris’s penalty.
The qualifying session set the grid for a key race weekend at the Circuit of the Americas, where track characteristics and race strategy will play important roles. The penalties and starting positions will influence how teams approach the race, with several drivers aiming to improve their championship standings.