In just his sixth Formula One race weekend, Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli secured his first sprint pole position, setting a lap time for the 2025 Miami Grand Prix’s opening race that was 0.045 seconds faster than McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.
Lando Norris rounded out the top three finishers for sprint qualifying on Friday afternoon at the Hard Rock Stadium.
Advertisement
While it is not an official F1 pole position for Antonelli, it is still a monumental moment for the 18-year-old, who was tasked with making his name at Mercedes after the departure of Lewis Hamilton.
Antonelli is the youngest driver to head a race grid in F1 history in any format. And it was one of the fastest laps clocked at Miami International Autodrome — a 1:26.482s lap. Max Verstappen established the lap record at 1:29.708s in 2023, which remains the official fastest lap as such times are set during race conditions. But Antonelli’s time eclipses the previous unofficial track record of 1:26.814s that Verstappen set in Q2 in qualifying for the 2023 race here.
Verstappen will line up alongside Norris for Saturday’s race after qualifying fourth, with George Russell fifth in the other Mercedes and set to line up next to Charles Leclerc.
“It was a very intense qualifying. I felt really good since this morning and I felt confident going into qualifying,” Antonelli said during his first post-sprint qualifying interview. “The last lap was mighty. I put basically everything together. It came all very nicely. Really happy to get the first pole.”
Here’s how the top 10 qualified for Saturday’s sprint race
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- George Russell (Mercedes)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
- Alex Albon (Williams)
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
Analysis: A huge moment in Antonelli’s young career
It may only be pole for a sprint race, but that’s a massive moment for Antonelli in only the sixth grand prix event of his F1 career.
The 18-year-old has made a solid start in F1 — already picking up a couple of youngest driver records along the way. While this won’t be an official pole position in the F1 record books, it is still a mighty lap by the young Italian.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff took a leap of faith by putting Antonelli in to replace Hamilton this year, given he had his pick of the F1 grid. But the Italians’ performances early this year had already vindicated that decision, and this pole makes clear it was the right call.
Advertisement
We’ve seen all the early signs from Antonelli that he has the makings of something special. He’s not been too far behind Russell through the early part of this year and it would always take a bit of time to find those extra couple of tenths to get ahead.
But this result will surely go down as a moment that truly announces Antonelli’s arrival. One that, if his career goes the way that Wolff and the others at Mercedes who have invested so much time into his rise to F1 anticipate, will be the first of many pole positions — official or not.
Antonelli will face a challenge to keep the papaya McLarens of Piastri and Norris at bay tomorrow. But if his style so far in F1 has proved anything, he’s surely going to be up for a fight — an exciting prospect for F1’s latest young star. – Luke Smith
Top image: Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Lucas Moura, do SPFC, crava grande time do Brasileirão: “Tem que reconhecer”
Lucas Moura em ação pelo São Paulo - Divulgação Recuperado de uma lesão no joelho, Lucas Moura foi a grande novidade do São Paulo na noite desta sexta-feira (2), contra o Fortaleza, pela sétima rodada do Brasileirão. O resultado, porém, não foi aquele que o camisa 7 esperava. Acionado no segundo tempo, o meia-atacante pouco conseguiu contribuir e evitar o empate em 0 a 0, no Morumbi. Ele reconheceu também a dificuldade que seria perante um forte adversário e que tem tido um importante retrospecto nos últimos anos. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “O gosto ficou um pouco ruim hoje. Diante do nosso torcedor, em casa, obviamente a gente queria uma vitória aqui hoje, era fundamental. Em vários jogos, o desempenho tem sido melhor que o resultado. Mas enfrentamos uma grande equipe também, a gente tem que reconhecer isso”, analisou Lucas Moura. Elogiado […]
Lucas Moura, do SPFC, crava grande time do Brasileirão: “Tem que reconhecer”
Lucas Moura em ação pelo São Paulo - Divulgação Recuperado de uma lesão no joelho, Lucas Moura foi a grande novidade do São Paulo na noite desta sexta-feira (2), contra o Fortaleza, pela sétima rodada do Brasileirão. O resultado, porém, não foi aquele que o camisa 7 esperava. Acionado no segundo tempo, o meia-atacante pouco conseguiu contribuir e evitar o empate em 0 a 0, no Morumbi. Ele reconheceu também a dificuldade que seria perante um forte adversário e que tem tido um importante retrospecto nos últimos anos. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “O gosto ficou um pouco ruim hoje. Diante do nosso torcedor, em casa, obviamente a gente queria uma vitória aqui hoje, era fundamental. Em vários jogos, o desempenho tem sido melhor que o resultado. Mas enfrentamos uma grande equipe também, a gente tem que reconhecer isso”, analisou Lucas Moura. Elogiado […]
F1 Miami GP live updates: Follow latest from today’s sprint race and qualifying
Greetings motorsport fans! One of the biggest Formula One events of the year is taking place in the Sunshine State. Yes, the Miami Grand Prix weekend zooms on and we got an action-packed day ahead. How about Kimi Antonelli? At age 18, he dazzled the crowd at the Miami International Autodrome to take the sprint race pole. Antonelli will look to build on his stellar racing in the actual sprint race taking place at 12 p.m. ET.Then at 4 p.m. ET, it’s qualifying for the actual Miami Grand Prix. Can Max Verstappen secure another pole in Miami? Or will one of the McLaren drivers, Oscar Piastri or Lando Norris, start at P1 for the race. Our The Athletic F1 writers Madeline Coleman and Luke Smith are reporting live on location and will be providing sights, sounds and updates from the […]
Kentucky Derby 2025 results and live updates: Start time, horses, odds and picks for The Run for the Roses
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – D. Wayne Lukas, a four-time winner of the Kentucky Derby, sat in the front row. A few rows back sat seven-time winner Bob Baffert, in Louisville for his first Derby after a three-year ban. Across the aisle from Baffert, Michael McCarthy, trainer of this year’s favorite, Journalism, sat beside his daughter, Stella.And on the other side of the setup for the Derby draw, stood a person in a horse head and jockey silks, hooves crossed at the ankles, casually hanging at a high-top bar table. Derby week officially kicked off with the perfect mix of the splendid and the absurd here on Saturday night, the sport’s stars doing on-camera TV interviews as they rubbed shoulders with a person who took time to rent a horse head.Mixed in the sublime evening, the 151st run for the roses got […]
Heidenheim goalkeeper Kevin Muller treated in hospital after head injury
Heidenheim goalkeeper Kevin Muller was taken to hospital after sustaining what appeared to be a serious head injury during his side’s 0-0 Bundesliga draw with Bochum.Muller collided with Bochum midfielder Ibrahima Sissoko while punching the ball clear early in the second half. Muller appeared to be knocked unconscious in the incident.AdvertisementThe 34-year-old was put in the recovery position by his team-mate Tim Siersleben and the match was stopped for 11 minutes. Privacy screens were set up in front of the supporters and broadcaster DAZN’s cameras cut away while Muller was treated. He was taken to hospital while on the field he was replaced by back-up goalkeeper Frank Feller.A club statement on Saturday read: “FCH goalkeeper Kevin Müller suffered a concussion in the Bundesliga home game against VfL Bochum. This was revealed by examinations late Friday evening at the Heidenheim Hospital.”It […]
2025 NHL playoff preview: Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Florida Panthers
By Dom Luszczyszyn, Sean Gentille, and Shayna GoldmanThe Toronto Maple Leafs, by virtue of preventing their first-round slide against the Ottawa Senators from turning into a full-on collapse, cleared one hurdle.Now, they’re faced with another — and it’s much, much taller than the last. Waiting for them in the second round are the Florida Panthers, who immediately snapped back into defending-champ mode against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Two years ago, also in the second round, the Panthers took out Toronto in five games. Things have changed on both sides. It’s time to see just how much.AdvertisementThe oddsThe Panthers are favored — no shock there. What may be a bit confusing is the margin, one that calls for a tighter series than many likely anticipated between the defending champions and a team that struggles to control play.While the model likes the […]
Related
Lucas Moura, do SPFC, crava grande time do Brasileirão: “Tem que reconhecer”
Lucas Moura em ação pelo São Paulo - Divulgação Recuperado de uma lesão no joelho, Lucas Moura foi a grande novidade do São Paulo na noite desta sexta-feira (2), contra o Fortaleza, pela sétima rodada do Brasileirão. O resultado, porém, não foi aquele que o camisa 7 esperava. Acionado no segundo tempo, o meia-atacante pouco conseguiu contribuir e evitar o empate em 0 a 0, no Morumbi. Ele reconheceu também a dificuldade que seria perante um forte adversário e que tem tido um importante retrospecto nos últimos anos. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “O gosto ficou um pouco ruim hoje. Diante do nosso torcedor, em casa, obviamente a gente queria uma vitória aqui hoje, era fundamental. Em vários jogos, o desempenho tem sido melhor que o resultado. Mas enfrentamos uma grande equipe também, a gente tem que reconhecer isso”, analisou Lucas Moura. Elogiado […]
Lucas Moura, do SPFC, crava grande time do Brasileirão: “Tem que reconhecer”
Lucas Moura em ação pelo São Paulo - Divulgação Recuperado de uma lesão no joelho, Lucas Moura foi a grande novidade do São Paulo na noite desta sexta-feira (2), contra o Fortaleza, pela sétima rodada do Brasileirão. O resultado, porém, não foi aquele que o camisa 7 esperava. Acionado no segundo tempo, o meia-atacante pouco conseguiu contribuir e evitar o empate em 0 a 0, no Morumbi. Ele reconheceu também a dificuldade que seria perante um forte adversário e que tem tido um importante retrospecto nos últimos anos. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “O gosto ficou um pouco ruim hoje. Diante do nosso torcedor, em casa, obviamente a gente queria uma vitória aqui hoje, era fundamental. Em vários jogos, o desempenho tem sido melhor que o resultado. Mas enfrentamos uma grande equipe também, a gente tem que reconhecer isso”, analisou Lucas Moura. Elogiado […]
F1 Miami GP live updates: Follow latest from today’s sprint race and qualifying
Greetings motorsport fans! One of the biggest Formula One events of the year is taking place in the Sunshine State. Yes, the Miami Grand Prix weekend zooms on and we got an action-packed day ahead. How about Kimi Antonelli? At age 18, he dazzled the crowd at the Miami International Autodrome to take the sprint race pole. Antonelli will look to build on his stellar racing in the actual sprint race taking place at 12 p.m. ET.Then at 4 p.m. ET, it’s qualifying for the actual Miami Grand Prix. Can Max Verstappen secure another pole in Miami? Or will one of the McLaren drivers, Oscar Piastri or Lando Norris, start at P1 for the race. Our The Athletic F1 writers Madeline Coleman and Luke Smith are reporting live on location and will be providing sights, sounds and updates from the […]
Kentucky Derby 2025 results and live updates: Start time, horses, odds and picks for The Run for the Roses
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – D. Wayne Lukas, a four-time winner of the Kentucky Derby, sat in the front row. A few rows back sat seven-time winner Bob Baffert, in Louisville for his first Derby after a three-year ban. Across the aisle from Baffert, Michael McCarthy, trainer of this year’s favorite, Journalism, sat beside his daughter, Stella.And on the other side of the setup for the Derby draw, stood a person in a horse head and jockey silks, hooves crossed at the ankles, casually hanging at a high-top bar table. Derby week officially kicked off with the perfect mix of the splendid and the absurd here on Saturday night, the sport’s stars doing on-camera TV interviews as they rubbed shoulders with a person who took time to rent a horse head.Mixed in the sublime evening, the 151st run for the roses got […]
Heidenheim goalkeeper Kevin Muller treated in hospital after head injury
Heidenheim goalkeeper Kevin Muller was taken to hospital after sustaining what appeared to be a serious head injury during his side’s 0-0 Bundesliga draw with Bochum.Muller collided with Bochum midfielder Ibrahima Sissoko while punching the ball clear early in the second half. Muller appeared to be knocked unconscious in the incident.AdvertisementThe 34-year-old was put in the recovery position by his team-mate Tim Siersleben and the match was stopped for 11 minutes. Privacy screens were set up in front of the supporters and broadcaster DAZN’s cameras cut away while Muller was treated. He was taken to hospital while on the field he was replaced by back-up goalkeeper Frank Feller.A club statement on Saturday read: “FCH goalkeeper Kevin Müller suffered a concussion in the Bundesliga home game against VfL Bochum. This was revealed by examinations late Friday evening at the Heidenheim Hospital.”It […]
2025 NHL playoff preview: Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Florida Panthers
By Dom Luszczyszyn, Sean Gentille, and Shayna GoldmanThe Toronto Maple Leafs, by virtue of preventing their first-round slide against the Ottawa Senators from turning into a full-on collapse, cleared one hurdle.Now, they’re faced with another — and it’s much, much taller than the last. Waiting for them in the second round are the Florida Panthers, who immediately snapped back into defending-champ mode against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Two years ago, also in the second round, the Panthers took out Toronto in five games. Things have changed on both sides. It’s time to see just how much.AdvertisementThe oddsThe Panthers are favored — no shock there. What may be a bit confusing is the margin, one that calls for a tighter series than many likely anticipated between the defending champions and a team that struggles to control play.While the model likes the […]
Be the first to leave a comment