Kimi Antonelli put himself on the edge of history at the Circuit of the Americas, taking pole position for the US Grand Prix and moving within one race of clinching his first Formula One world championship.
The Mercedes driver posted a lap of 1minute 34.035seconds in Q3 to secure the top spot in Austin, where gusty and unpredictable wind made qualifying especially difficult. Antonelli said it was a surprise to be on pole, but also a sign that Mercedes’ recent upgrade package is finally starting to deliver after earlier struggles in Malaysia and Singapore.
A title chance on Sunday
On Sunday, Antonelli can win the title if he wins the race and George Russell and Lewis Hamilton finish outside the required positions. It is a direct, simple scenario, and it gives the 20-year-old a chance to become the youngest F1 world champion.
Antonelli had previously taken pole in July at the Belgian GP, but this one carries far more weight because of what is now at stake. He said Mercedes has taken a big step forward since Singapore and that the team’s hard work is finally showing in qualifying.
That does not mean the race will be straightforward. Antonelli pointed out that Max Verstappen has been very quick and has won from pole in the last two rounds, which makes Sunday’s start especially important. Still, Antonelli sounded confident that if he can lead into turn one, he can try to control the pace from there.
For Mercedes, the result is a welcome sign that the car is moving in the right direction after recent upgrades did not deliver as expected. For Antonelli, it is something even bigger: a chance to turn pole position into a championship.
