Kimi Antonelli took pole for the United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas with a lap of 1:34.035, BBC Sport and Sky Sports reported. The Mercedes driver beat Red Bull's Max Verstappen by 0.179 seconds. Verstappen's teammate Isack Hadjar lined up third, ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.

BBC Sport said Antonelli will become world champion on Sunday if he wins the race in Austin with Hamilton lower than fourth and Russell lower than eighth. Hamilton starts fifth and Russell sixth, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris seventh and eighth for McLaren. Sky Sports also said Antonelli could seal his first title Sunday with a win if other results go his way.

Antonelli, 20, earned his first pole since the Belgian Grand Prix in July. He said the team would try to win on Sunday and that Verstappen and Hadjar had been very quick. Verstappen said his car lacked grip in the last qualifying run, BBC Sport reported.

Ferrari had led practice but faded when the pole was on the line. Formula1.com, the league record, confirmed Antonelli's pole ahead of Verstappen in Austin. Racing Bulls took ninth and tenth in the session, though Arvid Lindblad faces a five-place drop for using too many engine parts, Sky Sports said.

The race itself was still ahead, so these reports cover qualifying only. No result was in when BBC Sport and Sky Sports published.

This update follows an earlier NewsHabit card on Leclerc topping Austin practice.

What we know: Antonelli took pole in 1:34.035, 0.179 seconds ahead of Verstappen, and can seal the title Sunday with a win if Hamilton finishes lower than fourth and Russell lower than eighth.
What we don't: The race result and whether those title conditions will be met.