Kimi Antonelli will start the United States Grand Prix from pole position in Austin, De Telegraaf reports. Max Verstappen qualified alongside him on the front row, putting the two drivers at the head of the grid for Sunday's race.
The result marks a breakthrough for Antonelli, who described the lap as proof that progress is finally showing. "Finally we see the result," he said, according to Motorsport.com. The pole is a notable step for the young driver and places him ahead of the field in Texas.
Verstappen's session was less straightforward. The Dutch driver said he struggled for grip in the final qualifying segment, telling NU that the car felt like a kangaroo. Despite that, he secured a place on the front row, keeping him in close reach of Antonelli.
According to NOS, the leading teams were tightly matched in qualifying, which suggests a competitive fight at the front is likely on race day. De Telegraaf's headline framing places Antonelli's pole as the central story of the session, with Verstappen's second place completing the first row.
Attention now turns to the race itself, where Antonelli will need to convert his first-place grid slot into a result under pressure from Verstappen and the chasing pack.
