Kimi Antonelli has secured pole position for the 2026 United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA), leading a competitive qualifying session ahead of Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar. The Mercedes driver delivered a decisive lap of 1:34.035 in Q3, giving him his seventh pole position of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Verstappen secured second place for Red Bull, just 0.179 seconds behind Antonelli, while team-mate Isack Hadjar completed the top three. With the championship battle reaching a crucial stage, the starting grid promises an exciting race in Austin, Texas.
Antonelli Delivers When It Matters Most
Qualifying at COTA produced a closely contested fight for the front row. Antonelli established the benchmark in Q3 with a lap of 1:34.035, and none of his rivals could improve enough to take pole away from the young Italian.
Verstappen came closest, finishing just 0.179 seconds behind. Hadjar continued Red Bull's strong showing by taking third, while Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton qualified fourth and fifth respectively.
Antonelli's performance puts Mercedes in a strong position heading into Sunday's Grand Prix. However, starting from pole is only the first step, with tyre management, race pace and the opening lap likely to play important roles at COTA.
2026 United States GP Qualifying Results
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:34.035 |
| 2 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:34.214 |
| 3 | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull | 1:34.250 |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:34.267 |
| 5 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:34.311 |
| 6 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:34.476 |
| 7 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:34.803 |
| 8 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:35.049* |
| 9 | Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls | 1:36.049 |
| 10 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | — |
*Norris's lap time was deleted for exceeding track limits. His final qualifying position was eighth.
Note: These are the qualifying results before all applicable grid penalties. Arvid Lindblad is due to receive a five-place penalty for exceeding his permitted internal combustion engine allocation. Check the official FIA classification for the final race starting order.
Verstappen Keeps Red Bull in the Fight
Max Verstappen will start from the front row after delivering a competitive qualifying performance. Although he missed pole by less than two-tenths of a second, his second-place result leaves him in contention for victory.
Red Bull also enjoyed an encouraging result through Isack Hadjar, who qualified third. With both Red Bull drivers near the front, the team has two opportunities to challenge Antonelli at the start and put pressure on Mercedes during the race.
Ferrari and Mercedes Share the Front-Runners' Battle
Charles Leclerc qualified fourth for Ferrari, narrowly ahead of team-mate Lewis Hamilton in fifth. Both drivers remained within striking distance of the leading Mercedes and Red Bull cars.
George Russell qualified sixth in the second Mercedes. His position gives the team a strong presence in the first three rows, although he will need a clean start and consistent race pace to challenge for the podium.
Norris Loses Ground After Track-Limits Infringement
Lando Norris endured a frustrating end to qualifying after his lap was deleted for exceeding track limits. The McLaren driver consequently dropped to eighth, behind team-mate Oscar Piastri, who qualified seventh.
The result leaves Norris with work to do on race day. COTA offers opportunities to fight back, but overtaking, tyre strategy and traffic management could prove decisive in his attempt to move forward.
What to Expect in the United States Grand Prix
The Circuit of The Americas combines a challenging uphill run into Turn 1 with fast corners, technical sections and several potential overtaking opportunities. The opening lap could be particularly important, with Verstappen and Hadjar positioned behind Antonelli.
- Mercedes: Antonelli starts from pole and will aim to control the race from the front.
- Red Bull: Verstappen and Hadjar provide a strong challenge from second and third.
- Ferrari: Leclerc and Hamilton will look to capitalise on any mistakes ahead.
- McLaren: Piastri and Norris face different challenges as they aim to move forward.
Tyre degradation, pit-stop timing and the ability to maintain pace over a full race distance could change the competitive order. The final grid should also be checked after the application of all penalties.
Can Antonelli Convert Pole Position into Victory?
Antonelli has put himself in an excellent position, but Verstappen and the rest of the front-runners will be looking to challenge from the start. The Mercedes driver will need a clean getaway and a controlled race to turn his qualifying advantage into a Grand Prix win.
With the championship battle approaching a decisive phase, every point matters. The United States Grand Prix could prove significant for Antonelli, Mercedes and their rivals as the 2026 season continues.
Final Verdict
Kimi Antonelli's pole position headlines qualifying at the 2026 United States Grand Prix. Verstappen and Hadjar give Red Bull a strong presence at the front, Ferrari occupies the fourth and fifth positions, and Norris will have to recover after his deleted lap.
The stage is set for a compelling race at COTA. Will Antonelli lead from the start, or can Verstappen find a way past the Mercedes? The answers will come when the lights go out in Austin.
Source: Formula1.com – United States GP Qualifying Report
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