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United States Grand Prix

2026 United States Grand Prix: Starting Grid Revealed

Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli leads the field, with Red Bull’s Verstappen and Hadjar in the front row.

Kris Gupta, Founding Editor

• 2 min read
Formula 1 car at speed under floodlights with light trails
AI-illustrated | Pitlane Press India

In a highly anticipated start to the 2026 Formula 1 season, the grid for the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas was officially released by Motorsport.com, RaceFans and The Independent. Mercedes’ rookie Kimi Antonelli takes pole position, a significant milestone for the young driver who has been steadily climbing the ranks in the Mercedes‑F1 Academy. He will be joined on the front row by Red Bull teammates Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar, setting up a dramatic duel between the two teams from the very first corner.

Behind the front‑row trio, the rest of the grid follows a familiar pattern: the rest of the Red Bull squad, including Sergio Pérez and Alexander Albon, line up in the second row, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz occupy the third. Mercedes will be represented by Lewis Hamilton, George Russell and Lando Norris, with the midfield battle featuring teams such as McLaren, AlphaTauri, and Alpine. The final row will see the entry of the smaller outfits, including Williams, Haas, and the new‑to‑F1 entry, BWT‑Mclaren.

Antonelli’s pole is a testament to Mercedes’ continued focus on nurturing young talent, and it will be interesting to see how the seasoned drivers respond to a rookie on the front of the grid. Verstappen, who has dominated the 2025 season, will look to extend his championship lead, while Hadjar’s presence in the front row signals Red Bull’s intent to keep the pressure on Mercedes throughout the season. The grid also highlights the growing depth of the Red Bull and Mercedes squads, both of which are looking to maintain their dominance in the upcoming races.

For Indian fans, the United States Grand Prix will be broadcast live on FanCode from 12:00 PM IST, with commentary in both Hindi and English. The race is scheduled to start at 12:00 PM IST, giving viewers across India the chance to watch the action unfold in real time. Fans can also follow live updates and commentary on the official FanCode app, ensuring they don’t miss any of the on‑track drama.

Source: Motorsport.com

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Pitlane Press India is an independent, fan-made publication. It is unofficial and not associated in any way with Formula 1, the FIA, or the Formula One group of companies. “F1” and “Formula 1” are trademarks of Formula One Licensing BV, used here editorially to refer to the sport.