Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli has become the youngest driver to secure a Formula 1 pole position after starring in qualifying for the Miami Sprint race.
Competing in his rookie campaign, the 18-year-old has impressed during the opening Grand Prix to sit in sixth place in the Drivers' Championship.
The Italian's stock has now been further enhanced after he delivered a pole in his Mercedes on Friday, going just 0.045 seconds faster than McLaren's Oscar Piastri.
Lando Norris was close behind in third with Red Bull's Max Verstappen having to make to with fourth as the big names on the grid were outshone by Antonelli.
He said: "It was a very intense qualifying, I felt really good since this morning and I felt confident going into qualifying. The last lap, I basically put everything together and it was nice that it came very nicely. Really happy to get the first pole.
"Tomorrow is going to be nice to start on the front row; it's going to be a bit of a different feeling but I really cannot wait for tomorrow to see how we can do in the sprint and the qualifying as well."
We can't wait! 🤩
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 2, 2025
Here's your exciting Sprint starting grid 👇#F1 #F1Sprint #MiamiGP pic.twitter.com/9tijmsvAAz
Russell best of the rest
Despite admitting that he did not perform to his best in qualifying, Antonelli's teammate George Russell still earned fifth place.
Russell sits 26 points clear of the youngster and will be wanting to ensure that the gap does not close significantly in Saturday's 19-lap race.
Lewis Hamilton was more than half a second slower than Antonelli in seventh as he continues to battle with his Ferrari. Teammate Charles Leclerc was sixth.
Darren Plant
