EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsKimi Antonelli has edged closer to sealing his first drivers' world championship as he starts on pole for the United States Grand Prix, and you can follow live updates on ESPN.The Mercedes driver beat Red Bull's Max Verstappen to the line by 0.179 seconds.- Kimi Antonelli takes pole in bid to seal world title at United States Grand Prix- Kimi Antonelli ecstatic with first pole since July at United States GP: 'It's good to be back'Verstappen's teammate Isack Hadjar will line up on the second row in third, with Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari behind.Lewis Hamilton, despite finishing fastest in final practice, was down on the timesheets and will start fifth.George Russell couldn't find the pace as Mercedes continue to work on unlocking the new upgrades and was sixth-fastest.Antonelli can seal the title at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin if Hamilton finishes fifth or lower and Russell finishes ninth or lower.The title leader said after securing his first pole since July: "Yeah, I mean, we've got pole, so we'll try to win tomorrow. But Max has been very quick, and also, Isack did an incredible job in qualifying."It's not going to be easy, but we'll try to get a good start, and then hopefully we'll lead into Turn 1, and then we'll try to set the pace, even though it's going to be very tight. But very happy with the qualifying today. Q3 was very tough with the wind, very gusty, unpredictable, but happy that we stuck it on pole."
