Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent in Austin

Image source, Getty Images

Kimi Antonelli took pole position for the United States Grand Prix on the weekend on which he can potentially clinch his first world title.

The Mercedes driver beat Red Bull's Max Verstappen by 0.179 seconds, with the Dutchman's team-mate Isack Hadjar third ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.

Antonelli whooped with delight as he took his first pole position since the Belgian Grand Prix in July and said: "It feels good to be back."

The 20-year-old Italian will become world champion on Sunday if he wins the race in Austin with Hamilton lower than fourth and Russell lower than eighth.

Hamilton is already below that position having qualified fifth, while Russell will start sixth ahead of the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.

Read the full report here

Image source, Getty Images

The main news first - the clocks are going back very soon, so make sure you've changed any watches/clocks before you go to bed tonight.

Polesitter Kimi Antonelli is on the cusp of becoming the youngest driver to win a world championship in Formula 1 history, but will the 20-year-old Italian claim the title here in Austin at the first attempt?

If he wins the race and George Russell finishes ninth or lower and Lewis Hamilton finishes outside the top four, the 2026 crown is his with races to spare.

But he's sharing a row with four-time US Grand Prix winner Max Verstappen, who is full of confidence after winning the previous two races in Malaysia and Singapore.

Lando Norris didn't have much to say in the media pen after having a lap time deleted in Q3 and qualifying in eighth place. The world champion said the weekend has been a real struggle for McLaren, and the car is the hardest he's ever driven in his life.

We'll be back on Sunday for race build-up at 19:00 GMT.

Lights out at the Circuit at the Americas is at 20:00.

See you tomorrow!

Lewis Hamilton, who qualified fifth for the US Grand Prix, speaking to Sky Sports: "Q1 and Q2 felt really strong - we were right there in the fight. The car was just as good, we didn't make any changes and it was a really good lap in Q3, but those guys just somehow took another step.

"I don't know what it is. I think we're a few tenths off on the straight, but great lap by Kimi [Antonelli]. The power deficit to the Red Bull and the Mercdes is still significant, and our car is clearly as good as those maybe through all the corners, but we lose that down the straights.

On if he can gain places tomorrow: "Starting position isn't eveything [in Austin], but it's a very, very hard track to... you have to have really good pace to overtake. But it's a long race tomorrow; more degradation than anticipated yesterday on the long runs, hopefully our car will be decent tomorrow.

"And we'll do the best job we can to apply pressure. We'll do absolutely everything tomorrow."

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George Russell has stopped to chat to Sky Sports after qualifying in sixth place for Sunday's 56-lap race. "Qualifying was looking OK to be honest until we got to Q3 - I did two bad laps," says Russell.

"I think I could've been up there in the top three - my Q2 lap was two-and-a-half tenths quicker than Q3 - but obviously isn't good enough from my side.

"It's a long race and a lot happens here in Austin - strategy plays a role - so there are still opportunities."

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Charles Leclerc speaking to Sky Sports about what happened to the Ferrari's pace in Q3: "I don't think the others have changed anything from Q2 to Q3, where we've lost time is on ourselves. That is mostly the tyres. The out-lap was extremely difficult, there were a few more clouds in Q3, we lost one or two degrees in track temperature. For us it was night and day. Already from the out-lap I was having lots of difficulties. It's a shame it happens in Q3 because I strongly believe we had the pace to be fighting at the front but unfortunately not today again. The last time I started from fourth here I won. I hope we can do the same tomorrow."

Image source, EPA

Surprisingly, that was Kimi Antonelli's first pole position since the Belgian Grand Prix in July. The Italian managed to dodge the changing winds that caught his other competitors out at Cota, and now he can focus on winning tomorrow's race, which could, if things around him fall into place, deliver him a maiden world title.

Charles Leclerc is chatting in the media pen about Ferrari’s performance in qualifying and jokes the last time he started fourth in Texas, he won the grand prix in 2024.

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Red Bull's Isack Hadjar speaking after qualifying P3 for the US Grand Prix: "I'm happy with P3 because it's been incredibly hard for me since the start of the weekend. Couldn't find the right balance, struggled so much. I'm thankful for the team throughout the weekend. I've been a bit tough with them, I want to apologise. I'm happy to be third even though we had a shot at pole. I had a massive tailwind in turns 13 and 15, I lost so much time on my lap so I'm a bit gutted."

Image source, Reuters

Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who will start the US Grand Prix on the front row in P2: "Q3 was not good. Q1 and Q2 was nice, but then, for whatever reason, on both sets I just didn't have a good balance.

"There were no mistakes, but just no grip. Started to slide a lot and then the final lap you could see that it was not really happening with the sliding in places. You try to push a bit more but the car is like a kangaroo, like a massive slide, so you know the lap is over.

"Not very happy with Q3, to be honest. Just not what I wanted, not what I expected. But if it's still a P2, I'll take it."

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Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli speaking after qualifying on pole position for the US Grand Prix: "We got pole so we'll try to win for tomorrow. Max Verstappen has been very quick, he also did an incredible job in qualifying. It's not going to be easy but we'll try to get a good start and lead into Turn One and then we'll try to set the pace even though it's going to be very tight. Very happy with qualifying today. Q3 was very tough with the wind, very gusty. Happy to stick it on pole."

11. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

12. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi)

13. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)

14. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)

15. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

16. Oliver Bearman (Haas)

17. Esteban Ocon (Haas)

18. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

19. Carlos Sainz (Williams)

20. Alex Albon (Williams)

21. Sergio Perez (Cadillac)

22. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)

1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) 1:34.035

2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.179

3. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) +0.215

4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.232

5. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) +0.276

6. George Russell (Mercedes) +0.441

7. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +0.768

8. Lando Norris (McLaren) +1.014

9. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) +2.014

10. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) no time

Damon Hill
1996 world champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra in Austin

George Russell has got to watch himself tomorrow if he wants to keep his title chance alive - even if they are slender.

Where was Ferrari's pace in the top 10 shootout? Charles Leclerc will be lining up on the second row with Isack Hadjar in P4, and while Lewis Hamilton did improve his lap time, he's still down in fifth place at a circuit he's won at five times before.

George Russell actually ended up sixth on the timesheets, with Oscar Piastri in seventh place. World champion Lando Norris could only manage eighth in that session, with Arvid Lindlad ninth, but he'll drop five places with his penalty, and Liam Lawson in 10th.

Damon Hill
1996 world champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra in Austin

Kimi Antonelli has done everything he needs to do. That was a superb, together session for qualifying. He's not shown what he can do, he's taken the thunder from Ferrari. He just needs to stay in front in the race tomorrow.

Engineer: "Nice work Kimi. Wasn't expecting that. That first lap was good enough!"

George Russell has lost places on this final run. The Briton is now seventh on the grid, with Lewis hamilton climbing to fifth behind Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc.

Pole position would be a huge moment for Kimi Antonelli in his pursuit of his maiden world title this weekend, but he needs Mercedes team-mate George Russell and Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton to fall down somewhere.

Antonelli is again the man to beat in the middle sector but Max Verstappen is still quick in the opening part of the lap.

The Italian keeps pole in his grasp as the Dutchman fails to improve and stays P2.

Damon Hill
1996 world champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra in Austin

Liam Lawson might be wanting to save tyres. What's the point in going out, Racing Bulls have got to be realistic with what they can achieve. They've outshone their midfield competitors and they might think what's the point in wasting tyres.

Liam Lawson has reached the media pen and has said it was always the plan for one of the Racing Bulls drivers to sit out of Q3 if they both made it through. Keep those tyres in the bank for Sunday's race.

The other nine cars are heading out for the final part of this Q3 showdown. Kimi Antonelli has pole position at the moment, but can the championship leader keep hold of it?