Mercedes teenager Kimi Antonelli powered to a shock pole position in Friday’s qualifying for the Miami Grand Prix sprint race, delivering a sizzling final lap to become the youngest-ever driver to take pole in Formula One.
Fox Sports, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every qualifying session and race in the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship™, LIVE in 4K with no ad-breaks during racing. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.
The 18-year-old Antonelli stormed to the front of the grid for Saturday’s race with a fastest lap of 1:26.482 to leave the McLaren pair of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in second and third.
“It was a very intense qualifying. I felt really good since this morning and I felt good going into qualifying. I put everything together, so really happy to get the first pole,” said the teenager.
“Tomorrow will be nice to start on the front row, will be a bit of a different feeling.” The rookie, who only passed his driving test in January, entered F1’s record books last month when he became the youngest driver to lead a race, breaking a record held by Max Verstappen from back in 2016 in Japan.
Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff was purring in the paddock after the stunning display from the Bologna born driver.
“He’s a young man… Hopefully we make a lot of fun in the future, a lot of happiness,” he said.
“It’s about the trajectory. It’s not whether it’s a pole in the sprint, or tomorrow, he has done it and he’s quickest.” Antonelli’s British teammate George Russell had to settle for fifth place on the grid.
“I’ve been struggling a little bit today, a little bit off the pace, not been so comfortable,” he said.
“We just wanted to go on the early side because ultimately I didn’t quite have that confidence, and we thought maybe if there’s a yellow or a red at the end of the session, it will come our way.
“P5 today, not great, more to improve, but amazing for Kimi and the team. Massive congrats to Kimi. Really pleased to see. He did an amazing job. He has been really quick all day. Really impressive.”
Jack Doohan, meanwhile, was left fuming over what he saw was a team error that left him without enough time to make it around the track to start his final lap before the chequered flag. It saw him out in Q1.
The Australian was called out of his garage at the same time as teammate Pierre Gasly — who looked safe further up the classification — and was surprised to see the sister ca appear in his field of vision as he turned into the lane.
“Didn’t get a chance” – Doohan responds | 01:24
It forced him to check up slightly, which suddenly had him nudging the pit wall despite being at maximum lock in the narrow fast lane. He required the team to push him backwards slightly so he could complete the turn.
But the delay allowed several cars to jump him in the queue, separating him from Gasly in the queue and ultimately costing him a chance to set a lap.
Despite receiving an apology from his engineer, the Queenslander vented as he returned to his garage eliminated in 17th.
“That’s not acceptable,” he fumed over team radio. “If you’re going to send him [Gasly] before me, you have to make sure he’s ready.
“I can’t turn out and have to turn in because he’s going to turn into me.
“Then you put me out in Q1. That’s a joke.”
Discussion about this post