The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has confirmed no further action will be taken following an investigation into multiple drivers for allegedly exceeding the maximum delta time during qualifying for the 2026 United States Grand Prix. This decision clears Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, alongside McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.
The investigation also included Alpine drivers Franco Colapinto and Esteban Ocon. All five drivers were placed under review for potential breaches of the maximum lap time rule during the Q1 session. Piastri and Colapinto faced a second review for the same infraction in Q2.
The maximum delta time regulation is enforced to ensure drivers maintain a safe and consistent pace during qualifying laps that are not push laps. This prevents excessively slow driving on track, which can create dangerous closing speeds with other competitors. The stewards ultimately found no grounds for penalties.
Kimi Antonelli secured pole position for the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas, setting a fastest time of 1m34.035s. This marks his seventh pole of the 2026 season.
Antonelli enters Sunday’s race with a 102-point lead in the Drivers’ Championship. To clinch the title in Austin, he must win the Grand Prix, with teammate Russell finishing ninth or lower, and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton finishing fifth or lower.
Max Verstappen qualified second for Red Bull, 0.179 seconds behind Antonelli. Isack Hadjar placed third, completing the top three. Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will start fourth and fifth, respectively.
George Russell secured sixth position, followed by Oscar Piastri in seventh and Lando Norris in eighth for McLaren. Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad qualified ninth but faces a grid penalty. Liam Lawson will start ninth after qualifying tenth.
Additional grid penalties were issued to other drivers for power unit component changes. Franco Colapinto received a 10-place penalty, while Gabriel Bortoleto incurred a 20-place penalty. Arvid Lindblad will drop five places on the grid.
The Circuit of the Americas proved challenging for track limits throughout practice sessions. A total of 207 lap times were deleted across FP1 and FP2. Alex Albon recorded 20 infractions, Lando Norris 18, and Kimi Antonelli 13.
Ferrari had shown strong pace in practice, with Charles Leclerc topping all three sessions. Lewis Hamilton also led FP3. Mercedes, however, found significant performance for qualifying.
Antonelli acknowledged the challenge ahead for Sunday’s race. He noted Verstappen and Red Bull demonstrated strong long-run pace during Friday’s sessions.
“He’s going to be tough,” Antonelli stated regarding Verstappen. “We’ll just try to do our best and get a good start and hopefully lead into Turn 1 and set the pace from there.”
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff downplayed immediate championship expectations. He indicated the team was focused on scoring points rather than sealing the title prematurely.
