Antonelli dazzles with first pole position in thrilling sprint qualifying at Miami GP
Kimi Antonelli Becomes Youngest Polesitter in F1 History at Miami GP
Kimi Antonelli made history under the Miami sun, securing his maiden pole position during Sprint Qualifying for the 2025 Miami Grand Prix. In a sensational performance behind the wheel of his Mercedes, the Italian driver delivered a blistering lap of 1m 26.482s, becoming the youngest polesitter ever in Formula 1—across any race format.
Thrills and Drama in SQ3
The gripping finale of SQ3 kept fans on the edge of their seats as the leaderboard shuffled multiple times in the closing moments. Max Verstappen initially looked to have the pole in sight after eclipsing George Russell’s earlier benchmark, but Antonelli’s jaw-dropping lap stole the headlines. The McLaren duo of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris came tantalizingly close but settled for second and third, respectively. Piastri missed out on pole by a mere 0.045s, highlighting the fierce battle at the front.
Red Bull’s Verstappen claimed fourth, just ahead of Russell, whose time from the start of SQ3 was enough to secure fifth. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton lined up next in sixth and seventh for Ferrari, while Alex Albon brought his Williams home in eighth. Completing the top 10 were Isack Hadjar in ninth for Racing Bulls and Fernando Alonso in tenth for Aston Martin.
The Fight to Reach the Top 10
The fight to make the top 10 was equally intense, with Kick Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg narrowly missing out in 11th. SQ2 proved a tough segment for Esteban Ocon (Haas), Pierre Gasly (Alpine), and Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls), who all failed to advance. Carlos Sainz endured a frustrating session, locking up during his final attempt, which left his Williams languishing in 15th.
SQ1 was no less dramatic, as several drivers saw their qualifying sessions cut short. Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull missed the timing line in a crucial final push, relegating him to 18th. Alpine’s Jack Doohan and Haas’ Ollie Bearman also struggled, finishing in 17th and 20th, respectively. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) and Gabriel Bortoleto (Kick Sauber) joined them at the bottom of the order, ending their day in 16th and 19th.
High Stakes for the Sprint Race
With Antonelli’s unprecedented pole paving the way for a thrilling Sprint Race, all eyes are now on the Mercedes rookie to see whether he can convert his historic grid position into victory. The Miami circuit promises plenty of overtaking opportunities, and the competition from McLaren, Red Bull, and Ferrari will undoubtedly keep the pressure high.
Stay tuned as the 2025 Miami Grand Prix delivers more drama and excitement!
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