Kimi Antonelli has made headlines by clinching his maiden Formula 1 pole position during the Sprint Qualifying for the 2025 Miami Grand Prix. The 18-year-old Italian, driving for the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team, delivered a stunning lap of 1:26.482, making him the youngest pole-sitter in F1 history across any race format. His remarkable performance was highlighted by a thrilling SQ3 session where he edged out McLaren's Oscar Piastri by just 0.045 seconds, with Piastri clocking in at 1:26.527.
The excitement in the Miami International Autodrome was palpable as the qualifying session unfolded. Initially, Max Verstappen of Oracle Red Bull Racing set the pace with a lap of 1:27.070, but George Russell quickly bettered that time, posting a 1:26.791. However, it was Antonelli who stole the show in the dying moments of the session, showcasing his talent and composure under pressure.
Following Antonelli and Piastri on the grid will be McLaren's Lando Norris in third place with a time of 1:26.582, and Verstappen, who ultimately settled for fourth. Russell’s fifth-place finish was a testament to Mercedes' overall competitive edge, with both drivers showing strong form throughout the session.
"It was a very intense qualifying," Antonelli remarked after his historic lap. "I felt really good since this morning and I felt confident going into qualifying. The last lap was mighty, and I put basically everything together. I’m really happy to get the first pole." His enthusiasm encapsulated the spirit of the day, as he prepared to lead the grid into the sprint race.
Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will start from sixth and seventh, respectively, with Leclerc posting a time of 1:26.808 and Hamilton at 1:27.030. Both drivers expressed disappointment with their performances, indicating that they lacked the necessary pace to compete at the front. Leclerc noted, "The pace is just not there for now, so it’s a bit annoying," while Hamilton echoed similar sentiments, stating, "Not really. I think all the cars ahead are faster. We are just lacking speed but we just keep working from there."
In the battle for the remaining grid positions, Alex Albon of Atlassian Williams Racing took eighth place, followed by Isack Hadjar of Visa Cash App Racing Bulls in ninth, and Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin in tenth. The session was not without its drama, as several drivers faced challenges. Nico Hulkenberg narrowly missed out on SQ3, finishing in eleventh, while Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly, and Liam Lawson were also eliminated in SQ2. Carlos Sainz had a particularly difficult session, failing to set a time due to a lock-up at Turn 11, ending up in fifteenth place.
Yuki Tsunoda's exit in SQ1 was surprising, as he failed to cross the line in time for a final lap, finishing in eighteenth place. His teammate, Jack Doohan, was vocal about his frustrations after being blocked during his qualifying run, finishing in seventeenth. Meanwhile, Gabriel Bortoleto and Ollie Bearman rounded out the bottom of the grid in nineteenth and twentieth, respectively.
The Sprint Race is set to take place on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 12 p.m. ET, followed by the main Grand Prix qualifying for Sunday at 4 p.m. ET. As the teams and drivers prepare for the sprint, all eyes will be on Antonelli to see if he can convert his pole position into a strong performance on race day.
With the backdrop of the vibrant Miami atmosphere and the high stakes of Formula 1, the anticipation for the sprint race is building. Antonelli's achievement not only marks a personal milestone but also sets the stage for a thrilling weekend ahead. As he leads the pack, the question remains: can the young rookie maintain his momentum against seasoned competitors like Piastri, Norris, and Verstappen? The excitement is palpable, and fans are eager to witness the unfolding drama at the Miami Grand Prix.
