Kimi Antonelli Becomes Youngest Ever F1 Polesitter at Miami Sprint Qualifying
In a breathtaking display of talent and composure, 17-year-old Kimi Antonelli made history at the F1 2025 Miami Grand Prix by securing his first-ever Formula 1 pole position during Sprint Qualifying. The Mercedes rookie stuns the grid by outpacing McLarens and Verstappen in a thrilling SQ3 shootout at Miami Grand Prix. Driving for Mercedes, the young Italian edged out seasoned competitors including Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, becoming the youngest polesitter in F1 history across any race format.
Rising Above the Elite
The drama reached its peak in the final moments of SQ3, where pole position changed hands multiple times. After Max Verstappen briefly topped the leaderboard, Antonelli delivered a sensational lap of 1m 26.482s, holding off late charges from both McLarens. Piastri fell short by just 0.045 seconds, while Norris locked in third, demoting the reigning champion to fourth.
George Russell, who initially set the SQ3 pace, will start fifth on Saturday, followed by Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in sixth and seventh, respectively.
A Gritty Climb Through the Sessions
Sprint Qualifying saw intense on-track battles through all three segments. In SQ1, Russell led a Mercedes 1-2 while Yuki Tsunoda missed the cutoff due to timing mismanagement, and rookies Jack Doohan and Ollie Bearman also exited early.
SQ2 brought a fresh layer of tension as Lando Norris topped the timesheets, while Carlos Sainz’s lock-up ended his hopes prematurely. Hulkenberg, Ocon, Gasly, and Lawson were also eliminated in this round.
Historic Debut on Unfamiliar Ground
Antonelli’s pole is not only impressive for his age but also because it came at a circuit he had never driven on before. Using the soft tyres in SQ3, he showcased remarkable confidence and precision, ultimately outshining some of F1’s most experienced names.
The top 10 was rounded off by Alex Albon (P8), Isack Hadjar (P9), and Fernando Alonso (P10).
F1 2025 Miami Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying Results:
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 1:26.482
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1:26.527
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:26.582
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 1:26.737
- George Russell (Mercedes) – 1:26.791
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1:26.808
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 1:27.030
- Alex Albon (Williams) – 1:27.193
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) – 1:27.543
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – 1:27.790
- Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) – 1:27.850
- Esteban Ocon (Haas) – 1:28.070
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – 1:28.167
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – 1:28.375
- Carlos Sainz (Williams) – DNF
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – 1:29.028
- Jack Doohan (Alpine) – 1:29.171
- Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) – 1:29.246
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) – 1:29.312
- Oliver Bearman (Haas) – 1:29.825
What’s Next
With the grid now locked in, all eyes are on the Sprint Race scheduled for Saturday at 12:00 local time. As Antonelli prepares to lead the field, fans are eager to see whether the rookie can convert his pole into a podium—or perhaps a historic victory.
