Kimi Antonelli Shocks F1 with Maiden Pole at Miami GP Sprint

Kimi Antonelli Shocks F1 with Maiden Pole at Miami GP Sprint

Mercedes’ teenage prodigy, Kimi Antonelli, stunned the Formula 1 world by clinching his first-ever pole position during the Miami GP Sprint. The 18-year-old, who has replaced Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes following the seven-time champion’s move to Ferrari, achieved the feat in just his sixth Grand Prix weekend.

With this pole, Antonelli has etched his name in F1 history as the youngest driver to ever secure a pole position in any of the sport’s qualifying formats. He surpasses Sebastian Vettel’s previous record by more than two years, solidifying his status as one of the sport’s rising stars.

Although Antonelli claimed the top spot, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was right behind in second, ahead of his teammate Lando Norris. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen the took fourth. Mercedes’ George Russell, despite setting the early pace in SQ3, finished fifth after losing ground in later runs.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton completed the top seven in sixth and seventh, respectively.

Antonelli: “I Didn’t Expect This!”

Reflecting on his unexpected pole position, Antonelli shared his thoughts with Sky Sports F1:

“I didn’t see this coming. The lap felt good, and I was happy with how it turned out. There were a couple of areas where I think I could have improved, but overall, I’m very pleased with how I managed to piece everything together.”

“I’m going to enjoy this moment, but I’ll focus on tomorrow. It would be great to replicate this result in the race. McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull all have strong race pace, but we’re not far off. It will be crucial to get a solid start and maintain a consistent pace without overworking the tyres.”

Antonelli’s breakthrough pole has set the stage for an exciting race ahead, with fans eagerly anticipating what the young talent will achieve in the coming days.