Antonio Giovinazzi secured the overall and Hypercar class pole at Circuit of the Americas, recording 1:52.445 on the main grid in a stand‑out session that also featured Jack Aitken’s matching lap.
“Hyperpole” and the heat‑wave challenge
Giovinazzi’s lap came before Aitken’s, earning the first spot in the title‑deciding Hyperpole and one championship point, despite a wind‑battered track that frequently shifted direction.
“I managed to set a fast lap before the wind changed. The car was still settling, but that lap delivered the pole.” The reigning World Champion noted the difference between his best qualifying session time of 1:52.105 and the final Hyperpole pace.
Crafting a front‑row team
Jack Aitken’s Cadillac‑Jota slipped past second place in a blistering performance, finishing only 0.428 seconds off the top line.
“I didn’t expect to be so close to pole, but after we processed Free Practice 3 data, the car tightened up.” Aitken praised his team’s rapid tune‑ups, which secured the GT‑style front row for a high‑temperature event.
Nicklas Nielsen’s Ferrari in the #50 499P, despite topping the initial time‑test with 1:52.020, fell to fifth. He acknowledged the car’s balance hit a wall when it dropped pace in the decisive Hyperpole.
Ferrari’s 2026 ambitions
Ferrari earned its tenth Hypercar pole this season – twin successes at Imola and Austin, with riders from Maranello now fourth in championship standings.
Polish‑led #83 499P, last year’s rookie‑pole car, finished only 14th in the latest session, as grip issues hampered its competitiveness.
Championship battle: who’s next
Drivers Pier Guidi and James Calado also share fourth place overall, trailing the leaders by 17 points but still able to rally if the other top entrants falter.
Federico “Alessandro” Pier Guidi said the team will “score as many points as possible every weekend,” while Calado urged the squad to remain composure, noting that “one race at a time is the best approach.”
Engineering strategy and tyre choice
Team engineer Ferdinando Cannizzo highlighted that the 55 °C track forced a media‑chosen medium tyre, yielding quicker lap times and confidence for the start.
“Our set‑up worked as planned, allowing us to win both qualifying and Hyperpole in such high temperatures.” The team’s performance supports optimistic commentary from the vehicle engineers.
Implications for the season’s final push
The close margin between Ferrari, Cadillac, BMW and Toyota means a single missing point could tilt the title. Ferrari’s recent successes secure a strategic advantage heading into the final rounds, where fewer points may be available.
Giovinazzi’s pole sets a clear mandate: focus must stay on race execution to close the championship gap.
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