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In a sensational turn of events at the 2025 Miami Grand Prix, 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli shocked the Formula 1 world by taking pole position for Saturday’s Sprint race. The young Mercedes driver not only outpaced a highly competitive field but also shattered records by becoming the youngest pole-sitter in F1 history across any format. At just 18, Antonelli broke the previous record by a staggering two and a half years, placing himself in the history books and firmly under the global spotlight.
Antonelli’s performance during the Sprint Qualifying session at the Miami International Autodrome was nothing short of breathtaking. Clocking an impressive lap time of 1:26.482, the Italian prodigy claimed the top spot with composure and maturity well beyond his years. His lap not only secured him pole but also set a new track record, showcasing his potential as a rising star in the sport. The result marked a defining moment in his young career and sent a clear message to the rest of the grid.
Lining up beside Antonelli on the front row will be McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who narrowly missed out on pole by a mere 0.045 seconds. Piastri looked sharp throughout the session and was a genuine threat until the very end. His teammate, Lando Norris, wasn’t far behind, finishing third with a lap just over a tenth slower than Piastri’s. The McLaren duo has looked increasingly competitive in recent rounds, and their strong qualifying positions put them in a good place for a potential podium in the Sprint.
Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion, had a difficult qualifying session. He struggled to find rhythm in his Red Bull RB21 and could only manage fourth place. While not disastrous, the result falls short of his typical front-row dominance and reflects the team’s recent form, which has been notably inconsistent.
Verstappen’s teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, had a particularly tough outing. The Japanese driver was eliminated in SQ1 — the first segment of the Sprint Qualifying — marking the first time this season he has failed to progress past the opening stage. His early exit was unexpected and adds to the mounting pressure within the Red Bull garage.
Over at Mercedes, while Antonelli soared, his teammate George Russell had a more subdued performance. After showing promising pace in practice, Russell was widely tipped to challenge for pole. However, he ended up in fifth, nearly half a second adrift of his rookie teammate — a surprising outcome that underlines Antonelli’s incredible performance.
Ferrari had a mixed session. Charles Leclerc delivered a solid lap to secure sixth place, while seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton could only manage seventh. Hamilton, who recently claimed a Sprint victory in China, appeared to struggle with the handling of his Ferrari during the final segment and was unable to extract maximum performance.
Williams enjoyed a promising qualifying as Alex Albon placed eighth, continuing the team’s gradual return to competitiveness. Isack Hadjar, the Racing Bulls rookie, once again impressed by taking ninth — his third top-ten Sprint qualifying appearance of the season. Veteran Fernando Alonso rounded out the top ten for Aston Martin, showing he still has the pace to compete at the front end of the midfield.
The Sprint Qualifying followed the usual three-stage knockout format but with shorter session lengths, increasing the intensity. In SQ1, the slowest five drivers were eliminated: Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), Jack Doohan (Alpine), Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull), Gabriel Bortoleto (Kick Sauber), and Oliver Bearman (Haas). SQ2 saw another five knocked out, including Nico Hulkenberg (Kick Sauber), Esteban Ocon (Haas), Pierre Gasly (Alpine), Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls), and Carlos Sainz (Williams), who has been struggling to find form in recent rounds.
Antonelli’s landmark achievement has sent shockwaves through the paddock. As he prepares to lead the grid for the Sprint, anticipation is sky-high. Not only is this a test of his racecraft under pressure, but also a glimpse into what could be a transformative moment for both his career and Mercedes’ future. With youth on his side and momentum building, many are now wondering — could this be the beginning of a new generation in Formula 1?
All eyes will be on Antonelli as he takes his place at the front of the grid. Whether he can convert his maiden pole into Sprint victory remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Formula 1 may have just witnessed the birth of its next superstar.
