Kimi Antonelli just proved Lewis Hamilton wrong with record Sprint pole at Miami Grand Prix

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Kimi Antonelli became the youngest driver to take a pole position in any Formula 1 format in Miami Grand Prix Sprint qualifying. Antonelli stunned his more established rivals on his first-ever visit to the circuit.

Having struggled in Saudi Arabia, Mercedes showed a surprising turn of pace in the first two segments of qualifying. But the question was whether that would translate to SQ3 when teams switch from the mediums to the softs.

George Russell had beaten Antonelli in every meaningful session up to this point, but he was completely and utterly upstaged here. The Italian set a 1:26.482 – a new circuit record – to beat championship leader Oscar Piastri by just under half a tenth.

Russell was only fifth in the end, more than three-tenths down. Antonelli, who’s still only 18 years old, smashes Sebastian Vettel’s youngest polesitter record.

It doesn’t carry the same weight as a Grand Prix pole, but based on this result, it won’t be long before Antonelli is competing for top spot in a Saturday qualifying too.

Lewis Hamilton thought Kimi Antonelli would need time – he was wrong

Antonelli sounded daunted by the prospect of replacing Lewis Hamilton, who left Mercedes after 12 seasons and six championships to join Ferrari. But he’s hardly shown any sign of feeling pressure.

He was knocked out in Q1 on his debut at the Australian Grand Prix, but he immediately banished any notion that he wasn’t ready by recovering to fourth in changeable and treacherous conditions.

Since then, Antonelli has maintained a 100% Q3 record and been in the top six more often than not in competitive sessions. His margin to Russell has certainly been respectable.

When the two drivers appeared in the pre-race press conference in Melbourne, Hamilton suggested Antonelli would need time to show what he was capable of.

“The pressure is… it takes a long time to create diamond,” he said when asked about the influx of rookies in 2025. “Diamonds created over time. And I think just I hope that they have time and space to grow and be themselves and not have to conform and not have to rush.”

As it turns out, Mercedes’ newest diamond has shown his immense talent in just his sixth race at the Miami Grand Prix. Like all the great talents, he’s impatient.

Martin Brundle owes Kimi Antonelli an apology after pre-season prediction

George Russell predicted that Antonelli would invigorate Mercedes, and he was spot on. Hamilton achieved unprecedented success at Brackley, but it was arguably the right time to change after three disappointing seasons.

Russell has kept Antonelli at a comfortable enough distance so far, but this was the Italian’s first real warning shot. The Englishman needs to maintain his place as team leader as he nears the end of his contract.

Speaking during the winter, Martin Brundle suggested Mercedes would be a one-horse team in the same vein as Red Bull. He may owe Antonelli an apology.

The Formula 2 graduate has contributed 38 of Mercedes’ 111 points, and there’s no sign that the team will be overreliant on Russell for the remainder of the year.