Kimi Antonelli leads US Grand Prix formation lap as both Mercedes start on mediums

Outscoring George Russell in Austin seals the 2026 title.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 54m1 min read

🚨 FORMATION LAP 🚨 Kimi Antonelli heads the field, and both Mercedes are on the medium tyres! 👀 #F1 #USGP https://t.co/ Via @F1 on X

What happened: Round 18 of the 2026 Formula 1 season is underway at Circuit of the Americas, where recent Singapore third-place finisher Kimi Antonelli launches from P1 ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton complete the top five on the Austin starting grid.

Why it matters: Matching medium compounds across the two Mercedes garages puts the opening stint squarely on track position and tire management as Antonelli chases the 2026 Drivers' Championship. While team principal Toto Wolff called a Sunday title clinch in Texas unrealistic, Antonelli credited the team's reworked Malaysia upgrade for unlocking his pole-winning pace.

By the numbers: United States GP top-five starting grid (Round 18): P1 Kimi Antonelli, P2 Max Verstappen, P3 Isack Hadjar, P4 Charles Leclerc, P5 Lewis Hamilton. Antonelli opened Austin qualifying with a 1:35.015 lap before securing pole position.

What to watch: Lights out follows the formation lap at Circuit of the Americas as Verstappen challenges Antonelli on the uphill run to Turn 1.

Sources

@F1 2026-10-25T20:01:46.513568+00:00

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