Mercedes newcomer Andrea Kimi Antonelli made history on Friday after becoming the youngest-ever Formula 1 polesitter. The 18-year-old Italian produced a perfect final lap in the sprint qualifying session during the Miami Grand Prix, setting a time of 1:26.482 to claim pole position.
Despite expectations that McLaren drivers would have a stranglehold on the session, Antonelli beat Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, who took second and third places respectively. It was a very intense qualifying. I felt great since this morning and I felt good for qualifying. I put everything together, so very happy to take the first pole,” Antonelli said after the session.
Confident Start Before Sprint Race
The Mercedes rookie was thrilled about topping the grid for Saturday’s sprint race. “Tomorrow will be nice to begin on the front row, will be a little different sensation,” he said.
Break Between Races Helped Sharpen His Edge
Antonelli attributed the break following the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix for his impressive performance in Miami. He emphasized how the break allowed him to reflect on his experiences and come back stronger.
“Massively, every weekend I learn. Last weekend, having a break worked well and it helped me collect information and just process it all and recharge the batteries, it was really good,” he added. He also observed a clear improvement in his qualifying strategy.
“The entire qualifying I thought I was able to take a step lap by lap. I’m more conscious of how to do a consistent warm up and get more out of the tyres but there’s a lot of room for improvement.”.
“Each weekend I become more comfortable with the car, can mess around with it more and see how far I can push it. At the same time, I can learn more from the set-up and provide much better feedback which enables the team to develop the car.”
Rapid Rise Through the Ranks
Antonelli’s swift rise in Formula 1 has been nothing short of remarkable. He only obtained his driver’s license in January 2025 but had already made headlines earlier this season by becoming the youngest F1 driver to lead a race—breaking a record previously held by Max Verstappen since 2016.
Born in 2006 in Bologna, Antonelli came on board with the Mercedes Junior Team in 2019. His major breakthrough occurred in 2022 when he swept both the Italian and ADAC Formula 4 championships.
Following his success in Formula Regional, he skipped Formula 3 altogether—a very unusual move that confirmed Mercedes’ faith in his exceptional ability.
Taking Over After Hamilton’s Departure
Antonelli was promoted to the senior Mercedes team after seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton left for Ferrari. His performance thus far justifies why the team had such faith in the young driver’s potential.
As Antonelli continues to impress with his speed, calmness, and technical input, he is fast becoming one of Formula 1’s brightest young stars.
