Teen Kimi Antonelli sets two records in taking Miami Formula 1 Sprint pole

David J. Neal, Miami Herald on May 2, 2025

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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Baby arrival started and finished Friday of the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix race weekend.

The baby among Formula 1 drivers, Mercedes’ 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli, took the pole position for Saturday’ noon F1 Sprint. Antonelli’s first laps in anger around the Miami International Autodrome not only set a record for the fastest lap at the temporary circuit in Miami Gardens, 1:26.482, but also set a record as the youngest pole sitter for any kind of Formula 1 race.

“I’m feeling over the moon,” Antonelli said. “That lap it all came together. We will enjoy this for a little more. I want to focus on tomorrow because I really want to repeat myself (in Saturday’s Miami Grand Prix qualifying).”

Antonelli, who Mercedes brought in when seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton left for Ferrari, pipped McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, the leader in the driver’s standings, by 0.045 of a second. McLaren’s Lando Norris will start third after a best lp of 1:26.582.

“Think we’ve got another superstar we’re going to have to deal with,” McLaren Team Principal Zak Brown told TV interviewers after Antonelli pipped McLaren’s Oscar Piastri for the pole.

Friday morning, four-time defending world champion Max Verstappen arrived in Miami after he and wife Kelly Piquet announced daughter, Lily, had arrived. Verstappen then went out and ran third in the morning practice topped by Piastri and qualified fourth for the F1 Sprint.

Antonelli’s teammate, George Russell, qualified fifth. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Hamilton qualified sixth and seventh, respectively.

Imagine what Antonelli might do when he really learns the 3.36-mile course.

Earlier Friday, in discussing Hamilton’s departure after 12 years at Mercedes, Team Principal Toto Wolff explained circumstances that made the move perhaps beneficial for both driver and team (while stressing at least three times the lack of animosity between Mercedes and Hamilton).

“With us, Kimi was in the starting blocks,” Wolff said. “Eventually, it was this year or it would have been next year to bring him in. Bringing him in this year means we have a learning year before new regulations kick in (on 2026 cars). He’s going to know all the tracks, which for example, this one he’s never been to, and that felt like the right decision.”

During last year’s Miami Grand Prix weekend, Williams’ team principal took a number of questions about Antonelli replacing Fort Lauderdale’s Logan Sargeant at Williams. Instead, Antonelli’s at Mercedes, a team that contends each race instead of occasionally.

“George (Russell) has massively stepped up as a senior driver in the team,” Wolff said. “Kimi is almost like the young brother that’s come in. They work well together, which is very pleasing to see. Kimi doesn’t stress too much, he’s just building up constantly. And on George, you can rely on him when it comes to lap times and racing. So, spirits are high.”

They were even higher Friday evening.