Kimi Antonelli has kept his emotions in check after taking his first Formula 1 pole of any description at the Miami Grand Prix. While it’s a landmark achievement, he knows it’s not worth any points.
As he celebrated with his father, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff reminded Antonelli that he needed to maintain his focus. He becomes the youngest F1 polesitter ever, smashing the previous record set by Sebastian Vettel.
Antonelli’s feat was completely unexpected. Mercedes had struggled badly in Miami last year, picking up just 12 points after failing to score in the Sprint.
| RANK | DRIVER | TEAM | TIME |
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:26.482 |
| 2 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:26.527 |
| 3 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:26.582 |
| 4 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:26.737 |
| 5 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:26.791 |
| 6 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:26.808 |
| 7 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:27.030 |
| 8 | Alex Albon | Williams | 1:27.193 |
| 9 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls | 1:27.543 |
| 10 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:27.790 |
But it was clear from the outset that the W16 was far better suited to the Miami Autodrome than its predecessor. Rather than Russell, who has consistently maximised the car’s potential, it was Antonelli who emerged from nowhere to upset the established front-runners.
Mercedes hope 2 May 2025 will go down as a significant day in F1 history as the moment where a multiple world champion announced himself.
Danica Patrick in awe of Kimi Antonelli’s ‘composure’ at Miami Grand Prix
Speaking on Sky Sports immediately after the end of Sprint qualifying, Danica Patrick marvelled at Antonelli’s ‘composure’. He looked ‘so calm’ as he left the garage on his scooter.
Patrick thought that, as an 18-year-old, he’d be overwhelmed. But Wolff will be pleased that he kept his celebrations to the radio for the most part.
Antonelli was surrounded by fans when Sky interviewed him afterwards. This weekend, particularly in one of the sport’s biggest markets, could spark a surge in his popularity.
He’s already gained around 100,000 new followers on Instagram since the start of May, increasing his total to 2.1 million.
Patrick said: “We saw him coming out of the garage area and walking by, and he was so calm, just pushing his little Razor like, ‘Where do I go now?’. Wow, what composure out of an 18-year-old. I wouldn’t have been like that!”
What Lewis Hamilton said to Kimi Antonelli after first F1 pole
Jenson Button expected Antonelli to be error-prone in his rookie season after his heavy crash at the Italian Grand Prix last year. But he’s already looked like a polished driver.
Since a Q1 exit at the Australian GP, he’s qualified in the top eight in every single session. And he’s also scored points in all but one race, with a safety car hurting him in Bahrain.
Mercedes predecessor Lewis Hamilton congratulated Antonelli on social media after his milestone moment. He called his lap ‘amazing’.
Hamilton didn’t achieve a single pole position, regardless of format, in his final year at Brackley. The car seems to be better this year, but Antonelli has defied all expectations by getting to the front this quickly.
