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Antonelli pleased and surprised to avoid another track limits breach in qualifying | Formula 1

Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli secured his first pole position since the Belgian Grand Prix in July at the United States Grand Prix, a result he described as a pleasant surprise. The 2026 season has seen Antonelli accumulate multiple penalties for running off-course, making his clean qualifying run a significant personal achievement alongside the top grid slot.

Seven competitors, including Lando Norris and both Red Bull drivers, had their lap times deleted for similar infractions during the final segment of qualifying.

Antonelli noted that unpredictable gusts of wind made the session challenging, particularly on his final lap, yet he managed to avoid the generous asphalt run-offs at the Circuit of the Americas, where track limits remain a frequent issue despite repainted lines. He expressed satisfaction with the team's performance following a difficult debut of their recent upgrade package in Sepang, acknowledging that the crew has made substantial progress since Singapore in understanding and implementing the new components.

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