Antonelli sees Mercedes progress after US GP pole as Verstappen rues Q3 grip trouble

Kimi Antonelli took pole for the United States Grand Prix and said Mercedes had made a significant step with its package since Singapore, although the team was still working to understand it fully. He described Q3 as difficult, with gusty, unpredictable wind.

Antonelli said the package felt strongest through medium- and high-speed corners, especially Turns 8 and 9. Low-speed corners remained an area Mercedes was trying to understand, he said.

Max Verstappen qualified second, with Red Bull team-mate Isack Hadjar third. Verstappen said Q1 and Q2 had felt good; his fastest Q2 lap came on a used set of tyres. He said he lacked the rear grip he wanted in Q3's final sector. The wind affected his second run, he said, but was no excuse for how the first had felt. He regarded P2 as a good result, though he had hoped for more.

Hadjar said he had been unable to complete a single lap on the Soft tyres that morning after a difficult weekend. He credited Red Bull's set-up work with helping the car come alive in qualifying. Hadjar felt a strong tailwind cost him time on his first Q3 attempt; the track was worse for everyone on the final lap, he added.

Antonelli said he would try to win the following day's race, while noting that Verstappen and Hadjar had both been quick.