Antonelli takes surprise pole to boost chances of sealing title in USA

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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.

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.

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.

Verstappen's Red Bull team-mate Isack Hadjar equalled his best qualifying result by taking third, leaving Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton fourth and fifth, respectively.

George Russell will start from sixth, with the Brit needing to finish in the top eight to ensure Antonelli won't be crowned champion if he wins on Sunday. Hamilton would also need to finish fifth or lower in the event of an Antonelli victory for the title to be confirmed.

Oscar Piastri took seventh ahead of his McLaren team-mate Lando Norris as the latter was demoted from sixth after having his final effort deleted for breaching track limits.

Racing Bulls took the final two top-10 places but Liam Lawson will inherit ninth from his team-mate Arvid Lindblad, who has a five-place grid penalty for exceeding his engine component allowance.

More to follow...

United States GP Qualifying Timesheet

DriverTeamTime

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 Q3 time set
Knocked out in Q2
11) Pierre Gasly	Alpine	1:35.080
12) Nico Hulkenberg	Audi	1:35.158
13) Gabriel Bortoleto	Audi	1:35.691
14) Franco Colapinto	Alpine	1:35.722
15) Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin	1:35.818
16) Oliver Bearman	Haas	1:36.031
Knocked out in Q1
17) Esteban Ocon	Haas	1:36.531
18) Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	1:36.677
19) Carlos Sainz	Williams	1:36.770
20) Alex Albon	Williams	1:36.967
21) Sergio Perez	Cadillac	1:37.433
22) Valtteri Bottas	Cadillac	1:37.523

Sky Sports F1's live United States GP schedule

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Look back at some of the most dramatic moments to have taken place at the United States Grand Prix

Sunday October 25
5pm: F1 Academy Race 3
6.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: United States GP build-up*
8pm: THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX*
10pm: Chequered Flag: United States GP reaction
11pm: Ted's Notebook

*also on Sky Sports Main Event

Formula 1 heads to The Americas for another triple-header with the United States Grand Prix in Austin up first this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime

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