United States GP Qualifying: Kimi Antonelli beats Max Verstappen to surprise pole to boost chances of sealing maiden F1 title on Sunday

Kimi Antonelli beat Max Verstappen to pole position for the United States Grand Prix to boost his chances of sealing a maiden world championship in Sunday's race. <p>The 20-year-old Mercedes driver is all but certain to become Formula 1's youngest ever champion but could clinch the title with five rounds to spare if he wins in Austin on Sunday and other placings go his way.</p><p>It was perhaps the most unlikely of Antonelli's seven poles this season as he came from nowhere in Q3 to surge ahead of Verstappen, who had appeared for most of the weekend to be battling Ferrari for the front-row positions.</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/13599576/united-states-gp-2026-dates-schedule-austin-weather-uk-start-time-and-how-to-watch-or-stream-f1-race-at-cota-live-on-sky-sports"><strong>United States GP: UK schedule and how to watch on Sky Sports</strong></a></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/13597654/kimi-antonelli-f1-title-permutations-how-mercedes-driver-could-clinch-world-championship-at-united-states-gp">How Kimi Antonelli can win F1 world title at US GP</a></strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.skysports.com/f1/schedule-results">F1 2026 Calendar</a> | <a href="https://www.skysports.com/f1/standings">F1 2026 Standings</a> | <a href="https://www.skysports.com/f1/live-blog/12433/12466779/f1-news-rumours-and-gossip-formula-1-latest-updates-on-teams-driver-transfer-market-and-contracts">F1 Gossip Column</a></strong></li><li><a href="https://qrcode.skysports.com/skysports/F1articlespushpromo" target="_blank"><strong>Got the Sky Sports app?