Mercedes’ Antonelli claim pole position for F1 US Grand Prix

Italian Formula One driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli of team Mercedes competes at the free practice three at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, ahead of the United States Formula One Grand Prix on Sunday. (is associated with: «Mercedes’ Antonelli claim pole position for F1 US Grand Prix») Bradley Collyer/PA Wire/dpa

Formula One championship leader Kimi Antonelli claimed pole position on Saturday for the United States Grand Prix.

The Mercedes driver clocked the fastest time of 1 minute 34.035 seconds in his first flying lap of the final block of qualifying and nobody was able to beat that time in the second run.

Max Verstappen 0.179 seconds behind in second, followed by Red Bull team-mate Isack Hadjar, who was 0.215 seconds off the pace.

Ferrari disappointed after claiming top spot in all practice sessions and were fourth and fifth with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton respectively.

George Russell in the other Mercedes was sixth, followed by the McLaren duo of Oscar Piastri and defending champion Lando Norris.

Antonelli could claim the drivers’ title this weekend and become F1’s youngest ever champion at 20 years old. However, his chances of doing so on Sunday are unlikely, especially after the resurgent Verstappen won the last two races in Malaysia and Singapore.

He would need to win the race and for Russell to be not better than ninth and Hamilton not better than fifth.

But it’s a matter of time until Antonelli can celebrate his maiden F1 crown as he holds a 102-point lead over Russell with six races to go.

Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, now retired, is currently the youngest F1 champion. He won his first title at 23 years, 134 days in 2010.

Source: sports.yahoo.com — article syndicated from the publisher’s feed; all rights remain with the original publisher.