Kimi Antonelli will start the 2026 United States Grand Prix from pole position, with Max Verstappen alongside him on the front row. However, several penalties have reshuffled the starting order in Austin, while a late decision by Aston Martin means Lance Stroll will begin Sunday's race from the pit lane.

The Mercedes driver secured his seventh pole position of the season at the Circuit of the Americas, putting himself in an ideal position ahead of his first mathematical opportunity to clinch his first F1 title.

Verstappen qualified second, with Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar completing the top three. Charles Leclerc will start fourth for Ferrari, ahead of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris occupy seventh and eighth respectively, while Liam Lawson and Pierre Gasly complete the top ten.

Penalties reshape the US GP starting grid

Three drivers have received grid penalties for exceeding their permitted allocation of power unit components. Arvid Lindblad received a five-place penalty, dropping the Racing Bulls driver to 14th despite reaching Q3 during Saturday's qualifying session.

Franco Colapinto was handed a ten-place grid penalty for taking additional power unit components, leaving the Alpine driver near the back of the field.

Gabriel Bortoleto faces an even more substantial penalty after exceeding his allocation of several engine components. The Audi driver received a cumulative 80-place penalty and will start from the back of the grid.

Photo: Race Pictures

However, the most significant late development concerns Stroll. Aston Martin decided to fit a new power unit to the Canadian's car under parc fermé conditions, forcing him to start from the pit lane rather than his original 16th position.

As a result, the drivers originally behind Stroll move forward one place, with Carlos Sainz now starting 16th, followed by Alex Albon, Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas.

Colapinto and Bortoleto will occupy the final two positions on the grid, while Stroll joins the race from the pit lane.

Updated 2026 United States GP starting grid