Antonelli takes pole in Austin: what the qualifying times show
Prepared with AI assistance; sources and original commentary are identified.
Kimi Antonelli set a 1:34.035 in qualifying on 24 October for the United States Grand Prix, ahead of Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar. This is the qualifying result, not the result of Sunday's race. [1] [2]
The confirmed session result
Formula 1's official table lists Antonelli first, Verstappen second on 1:34.214 and Hadjar third on 1:34.250. Charles Leclerc is fourth on 1:34.267 and Lewis Hamilton fifth on 1:34.311. These are the best times from Q3, the final qualifying segment. They should be read as results of that session, with its own columns and order, rather than total race times. The table also lists Q1 and Q2 separately. [1]
Why qualifying and the grid are different checks
The official report published on 24 October mentions grid penalties for Arvid Lindblad and Franco Colapinto. This makes it important to distinguish the order achieved on track from starting positions published after decisions have been applied. To check where a driver will start, consult the official results' Starting Grid section instead of simply copying the qualifying list. The pole report describes Saturday's session; it neither announces Sunday's winner nor confirms the championship's final outcome. [2] [1]
The timetable uses Austin's local time
The event's specific timetable schedules the Grand Prix for 25 October at 15:00 local time and identifies Austin as UTC−5. It specifies 56 laps and warns that times are subject to change. To avoid confusion with widgets that switch time zones, check the document's Local time label before comparing it with your diary. This is a scheduled time, not confirmation that the start has already taken place. The page distinguishes Friday, Saturday and Sunday sessions. [3]
Sources and references
Formula 1 — FORMULA 1 MSC CRUISES UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX 2026 - QUALIFYING
Claims supported:
- Top-five order and Q3 times; separate Q1, Q2 and Starting Grid entries.
Formula 1 — Antonelli seizes pole position ahead of Verstappen in Qualifying at the United States GP
Claims supported:
- 24 October pole report and grid penalties for Lindblad and Colapinto.
Formula 1 — FORMULA 1 MSC CRUISES UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX 2026 - full timetable
Claims supported:
- 25 October race scheduled at 15:00 local, Austin UTC−5, 56 laps; subject to change.
Editorial commentary
Our view is that the most useful information for following the race combines three checks: qualifying times, the grid and the timetable. Antonelli's pole is confirmed; predicting a winner requires a different analysis and does not follow automatically from pole. We recommend keeping those categories separate when sharing results, especially when a short headline may circulate after the race and lose its Saturday context. Here, the date and nature of the session remain explicit. [1] [2]
We also recommend opening the original table if a position is unclear. The report of penalties shows why a stand-alone list of the five quickest times should not be presented as the full grid. Our commentary interprets the identified documents: it is not based on our own telemetry, car tests or interviews. The cover merely illustrates work with timing information; it does not establish any event, equipment or presence in Austin. [2] [3]