Kimi Antonelli soared to pole position for the United States Grand Prix on a weekend when he could claim his place as Formula One’s youngest world champion.

The Italian turned the tables on Ferrari as the Scuderia, who had led the way for all three practice sessions, again fell flat when it came to the crunch.

Antonelli pipped Max Verstappen – winner of the last two races – to first spot on the grid by 0.179 seconds with Isack Hadjar third in the second Red Bull.

For Antonelli to claim the crown in the Lone Star State is a tall order; he would need to win Sunday’s race and hope that George Russell finishes lower than ninth and Lewis Hamilton lower than fifth.

But he did the first part of his job in supreme fashion, delivering a stellar lap to blow away his rivals and underline why he is the champion-in-waiting.

Russell struggled and will line up sixth, while Charles Leclerc and Hamilton managed only fourth and fifth as Ferrari’s pace disappeared when it mattered.

Sunday represents the 20-year-old…