Antonelli becomes F1's youngest polesitter in any format
Formula One F1 - Miami Grand Prix - Miami International Autodrome, Miami, Florida, United States - May 1, 2025 Mercedes' George Russell and Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli ahead of the Miami Grand Prix REUTERS/Marco Bello
Formula One F1 - Miami Grand Prix - Miami International Autodrome, Miami, Florida, United States - May 2, 2025 Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli during sprint qualifying REUTERS/Ricardo Arduengo
Antonelli becomes F1's youngest polesitter in any format
MIAMI - Mercedes' Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli became Formula One's youngest polesitter in any format after lapping fastest in Miami Grand Prix sprint qualifying on Friday.
The 18-year-old, preparing for only his sixth grand prix weekend, lapped with a best time of one minute 26.482 seconds to pip McLaren's championship leader Oscar Piastri by 0.045 seconds.
McLaren's Lando Norris was third fastest with Red Bull's four-times world champion Max Verstappen completing the second row on the day he announced he had become a father for the first time.
"The last lap was mighty. I put everything together. I'm really happy to get the first pole," said a surprised Antonelli, who replaced seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes in January.
Hamilton, winner of the first sprint race of the season in China from pole position for Ferrari, qualified seventh with teammate Charles Leclerc sixth. Mercedes' George Russell will line up ahead of them in fifth.
Only the top eight places in Saturday's 100km race score points.
Williams had Alex Albon qualify eighth with French rookie Isack Hadjar ninth for Racing Bulls and Fernando Alonso completing the top 10 for Aston Martin.
Piastri leads closest rival Norris by 10 points and will be chasing his third grand prix win in a row in Sunday's main event, with qualifying for that race taking place after the Saturday sprint. REUTERS
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