Kimi Antonelli delivered one of the standout moments of the 2025 season so far by snatching a sensational maiden pole position during Sprint Qualifying at the 2025 Miami Grand Prix — and in doing so, rewrote a chapter of Formula 1 history. At just 18 years old and in only his sixth Grand Prix weekend, the Mercedes rookie became the youngest driver ever to take pole in any F1 qualifying format, breaking Sebastian Vettel’s long-standing record by over two years.
What To Know
- Record-breaker: Kimi Antonelli claimed a stunning pole, the youngest ever in F1 qualifying history.
- McLaren close behind: Piastri and Norris locked out P2 and P3, showing McLaren’s consistent pace.
- Drama in the drop zone: Big names like Sainz and Tsunoda were eliminated early in a mixed-up order.
On a circuit he had never driven before Friday, Antonelli rose to the occasion in SQ3 with a composed yet electrifying final lap, stopping the clock at 1m26.482s. It was enough to edge out championship leader Oscar Piastri by just 0.045s, securing the top spot on the grid for Saturday’s Sprint race and leaving the paddock in stunned admiration. In a season already filled with surprises, Antonelli’s performance marked a coming-of-age moment for the Italian — and a massive statement from Mercedes’ next-generation talent.
Formula One History Recommends
Behind Antonelli, Piastri narrowly missed out on pole but still secured a front-row start for McLaren, continuing his strong Miami form. Lando Norris made it a McLaren two-three, with the Briton settling for third after a session that ebbed and flowed in its final minutes. Max Verstappen, returning to the cockpit just days after the birth of his daughter Lily, took fourth for Red Bull after briefly leading the timesheets before the late flurry of improvements.
George Russell rounded out the top five for Mercedes, having been the first driver to set a lap time in SQ3. However, his early effort left him vulnerable as track evolution played a key role in the final standings. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton followed in sixth and seventh, the former continuing to show flashes of form while Hamilton once again struggled to find top-tier pace.
Alex Albon impressed once again for Williams, placing eighth and outpacing a tightly packed midfield that included Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar in ninth and Fernando Alonso in tenth for Aston Martin. Nico Hülkenberg narrowly missed out on a spot in SQ3, ending up 11th in the Kick Sauber, while Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly, and Liam Lawson also saw their runs end in SQ2. Carlos Sainz endured a frustrating session, locking up during his final attempt and finishing down in 15th — a disappointing result for the Williams driver after recent momentum.
The biggest surprises came in SQ1, where several big names failed to make the cut. Yuki Tsunoda was caught out by poor timing, missing the line to begin a final lap and ending up 18th for Red Bull. Alpine’s Jack Doohan and Haas rookie Ollie Bearman also exited at the first hurdle, joining Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Kick Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto in the bottom five.
As the dust settled on a dramatic Sprint Qualifying, all eyes turned to Saturday’s 100km dash, with Antonelli leading the pack — a symbolic passing of the torch in a sport that thrives on generational shifts. The 2025 season had already delivered unpredictability, but Miami raised the bar yet again.
2025 Miami GP Sprint Qualifying Results
2025 Miami Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying, 2 May 2025
| Pos | No | Driver | Car | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:27.858 | 1:27.384 | 1:26.482 | 15 |
| 2 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 1:27.951 | 1:27.354 | 1:26.527 | 12 |
| 3 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 1:27.890 | 1:27.109 | 1:26.582 | 14 |
| 4 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:27.953 | 1:27.245 | 1:26.737 | 16 |
| 5 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:27.688 | 1:27.666 | 1:26.791 | 15 |
| 6 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:28.325 | 1:27.467 | 1:26.808 | 16 |
| 7 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:28.231 | 1:27.546 | 1:27.030 | 15 |
| 8 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | 1:27.859 | 1:27.697 | 1:27.193 | 15 |
| 9 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:28.394 | 1:27.773 | 1:27.543 | 12 |
| 10 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:28.455 | 1:27.766 | 1:27.790 | 13 |
| 11 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:28.542 | 1:27.850 | 9 | |
| 12 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Haas Ferrari | 1:28.303 | 1:28.070 | 9 | |
| 13 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | 1:28.345 | 1:28.167 | 9 | |
| 14 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:28.914 | 1:28.375 | 8 | |
| 15 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Williams Mercedes | 1:27.899 | 8 | ||
| 16 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:29.028 | 6 | ||
| 17 | 7 | Jack Doohan | Alpine Renault | 1:29.171 | 5 | ||
| 18 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:29.246 | 5 | ||
| 19 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:29.312 | 6 | ||
| 20 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari | 1:29.825 | 5 |
2025 Miami Sprint Starting Grid
The Sprint starting grid, with or without penalties, after the 2025 Miami Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying session.
| Pos | No | Driver | Car | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:26.482 |
| 2 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 1:26.527 |
| 3 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 1:26.582 |
| 4 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:26.737 |
| 5 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:26.791 |
| 6 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:26.808 |
| 7 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:27.030 |
| 8 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | 1:27.193 |
| 9 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:27.543 |
| 10 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:27.790 |
| 11 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:27.850 |
| 12 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Haas Ferrari | 1:28.070 |
| 13 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | 1:28.167 |
| 14 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:28.375 |
| 15 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Williams Mercedes | |
| 16 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:29.028 |
| 17 | 7 | Jack Doohan | Alpine Renault | 1:29.171 |
| 18 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:29.312 |
| 19 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari | 1:29.825 |
| 20 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:29.246 |
| Note – Tsunoda required to start from the pit lane after car was modified under Parc Ferme conditions. | ||||
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