Miami Gardens, Florida — In a historic moment for Formula 1 racing, 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli secured the pole position for the Miami Grand Prix sprint race, making him the youngest driver ever to achieve this feat in any Formula 1 event. This accomplishment marks a significant milestone in Antonelli’s debut season with Mercedes, where he was chosen to succeed seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
The young Italian driver impressively clinched the top spot in qualifying, narrowly edging out current F1 points leader Oscar Piastri of McLaren by a mere 0.045 seconds. This achievement also marks the first time since 2009 that an Italian driver has won a pole position in Formula 1, highlighting Antonelli’s emerging talent and potential.
Expressing his delight, Antonelli remarked, “I am feeling over the moon, I did not expect this,” reflecting the unexpected yet triumphant nature of his performance. He further noted the intensity of the qualifying session and his confidence leading into the event, describing the opportunity to start on the front row as “really happy.”
Joining Antonelli on the front row for the sprint race is Oscar Piastri, further adding to the competitive atmosphere ahead of the main Grand Prix event. Lando Norris, who currently ranks second in the standings, qualified third for McLaren. Max Verstappen, who missed Thursday’s activities due to the birth of his first child with partner Kelly Piquet, secured fourth place.
George Russell, Mercedes’ lead driver, qualified in fifth, closely followed by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and the seasoned Lewis Hamilton. Williams driver Alex Albon achieved eighth place, with Isack Hadjar of Racing Bulls and Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin completing the top ten.
Antonelli’s achievement not only underscores Mercedes’ confidence in their young recruit but also sets the stage for an exciting sprint race and potential shifts in the championship standings. As the F1 community turns its focus to the upcoming races, Antonelli’s record-setting performance promises to be a highlight of the season.
