Kimi Antonelli becomes youngest F1 polesitter at Miami GP sprint

Eighteen-year-old rookie Kimi Antonelli made Formula One history by becoming the youngest ever polesitter in any F1 format, clinching pole position for the Miami Grand Prix sprint race in only his sixth career event. Driving for Mercedes as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement, Antonelli edged out McLaren’s Oscar Piastri by just 0.045 seconds with a standout lap time of 1:26.482s, while Lando Norris and Max Verstappen completed the top four. Antonelli’s achievement drew praise for his composure and rapid adaptation to Formula One, with the young Italian attributing his success to confidence gained throughout the weekend and consistent improvement. Although his pole was for a sprint race rather than the main Grand Prix, it marks a significant milestone in F1 and signals his growing influence within the Mercedes team. The qualifying session also saw George Russell, Antonelli’s teammate, finish fifth, and Max Verstappen return to competition as a new father. Antonelli’s historic performance has heightened anticipation for both the sprint and the main Grand Prix races in Miami.