Summary
Kimi Antonelli secures pole position for the US Grand Prix, positioning himself as a strong contender for the championship title. The young driver, who leads the championship standings, achieved a remarkable lap time, finishing 0.179 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen. Despite a lackluster performance in earlier practice sessions, Antonelli demonstrated impressive skill during qualifying, hitting every apex and avoiding track limit violations, a significant improvement from previous races.
Verstappen, who qualified in second, expressed disappointment over his car's balance during Q3, which he attributed to a lack of grip rather than any mistakes on his part. Isaac Hadjar, driving for Red Bull, completed the top three, while Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, who had shown strong performances in practice, finished fourth and fifth, respectively. George Russell, struggling to find his footing this season, qualified sixth, raising questions about his ability to compete effectively in the championship.
As the race approaches, Antonelli needs to win to clinch the title, with specific finishing positions required from his rivals. The paddock anticipates a thrilling race, particularly at the first turn, where Antonelli will need to navigate the challenges posed by Verstappen and the rest of the field. The excitement builds as fans look forward to a potential historic moment for Antonelli, who could become the youngest Formula One champion.
Show Notes
Can Kimi Antonelli turn pole position into a world championship? Rosanna Tennant is joined by Rebecca Clancy and Harry Benjamin to look back at qualifying in Austin. We hear from Antonelli and Max Verstappen, and the team make their predictions on whether Kimi will be crowned world champion on Sunday.
More from F1: Chequered Flag
Will Kimi Antonelli be crowned Formula 1 world champion in Austin this weekend, or will the title celebrations have to wait? Rosanna Tennant is joined by Jolyon Palmer, Andrew Benson and Harry Benjamin to assess the Italian’s chances, and we hear from the man himself. We also discuss Max Verstappen’s resurgence as he chases a third consecutive Grand Prix victory, and examine the tensions at Ferrari after Lewis Hamilton squandered a likely podium finish in Singapore. Plus, Haas driver Ollie Bearman drops by for a chat about life in F1, his future and his former team-mate Antonelli’s remarkable rise to the top.
Former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner sits down for an in-depth chat with Rick Edwards around the release of his memoir ‘Drive'. Horner details why he was sacked last year, what would bring him back to F1 and whether he misses the sport.
Harry Benjamin speaks to F1 Academy championship leader Alisha Palmowski about her season and her hopes of securing the title in Austin. Alisha looks ahead to the next step in her career and also offers her thoughts on Kimi Antonelli’s rapid rise. Pierre Gasly looks back on nearly a decade in Formula 1, from his debut in Malaysia to his Monza victory and pole position. He discusses Alpine’s upward trajectory, adapting to life at the front of a team and the lessons he would pass on to his younger self. Plus, the BBC’s F1 correspondent Andrew Benson reacts to the news that Rwanda has signed a 10-year deal to host races in the African country, starting "in the early 2030s".
Could Max Verstappen convert pole to victory in Singapore & would Kimi Antonelli edge closer to the drivers’ title? Harry Benjamin is joined by British racing driver Alice Powell and F1 Academy championship leader Alisha Palmowski to reflect on all of the action and hear from the key protagonists, Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and Kimi Antonelli. The team analyse Ferrari’s strategy and explain the permutations for Antonelli to win the title in Austin next time out.
Could Max Verstappen continue his fine form and take victory in the Singapore sprint? Would Kimi Antonelli take full advantage in qualifying, knowing that George Russell has a penalty for Sunday’s Grand Prix? Or would Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari or the McLarens capitalise at the Marina Bay Street Circuit? Harry Benjamin and British racing driver Alice Powell react to a packed Saturday at the Singapore Grand Prix.