Kimi Antonelli claims maiden F1 pole in Miami GP Sprint Qualifying

Full 2025 Miami GP Sprint Qualifying Results – Mercedes’ rookie sensation Kimi Antonelli claims maiden F1 pole position, making him the youngest Formula 1 driver to achieve that feat.

The 18-year-old Italian not only outpaced the established stars but also etched his name in the record books as the youngest polesitter in any F1 race format, underscoring the arrival of a new generation of talent at the sport’s pinnacle.

The Miami GP Sprint Qualifying session unfolded under the sweltering Florida sun with the tension palpable from the outset. All drivers were mandated to use the medium compound tire for the opening SQ1 segment which set the stage for a fiercely competitive battle.

The pit lane was abuzz with activity as teams jostled for optimal track position, leading to a brief squabble between Jack Doohan and Liam Lawson over an unsafe release – a sign of the high stakes and razor-thin margins that would define the session.

Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion and new father, was quick to lay down an early marker with a 1:27.953 but his time was swiftly eclipsed by McLaren’s Lando Norris who went 0.063 seconds quicker.

Norris’s teammate Oscar Piastri slotted into third, as the McLaren duo signaled their intent to challenge for the front row.

However, the final qualifying segment saw Kimi Antonelli claim maiden F1 pole after surging to the top of the timesheets with a lap just 0.032 seconds faster than Norris.

Drama for Leclerc and Tsunoda in SQ1

The first segment saw its share of drama with Charles Leclerc brushing the wall at Turn 16 and Gabriel Bortoleto also making contact at the same point.

Yuki Tsunoda found himself languishing in 17th after his initial run while Isack Hadjar had his first flying lap deleted for exceeding track limits, adding pressure as the clock ticked down.

Tsunoda’s session was a disaster as the Red Bull driver was knocked out in 18th ahead of Gabriel Bortoleto’s Sauber in 19th and Oliver Bearman’s Haas in 20th.

Tsunoda’s lack of pace and Bortoleto’s brush with the wall summed up a difficult day for both, while Bearman’s Miami Grand Prix weekend continued to be a steep learning curve.

Traffic chaos in SQ2

As the field moved into SQ2, the intensity only increased. The McLarens continued to look strong with Norris and Piastri trading fastest laps while Antonelli and Verstappen hovered close behind.

Meanwhile Antonelli’s Mercedes teammate George Russell delivered a solid performance to secure his place in the top ten while the Ferrari pair of Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton also advanced, though both were over three tenths adrift of the leading times.

Notably, Carlos Sainz suffered a major setback, aborting his flying lap after a huge lock-up at Turn 11 and failing to set a time in SQ2 which left him a frustrated 15th on the grid.

The cut for the final SQ3 shootout was brutal with Nico Hulkenberg narrowly missing out despite an impressive effort for Sauber, outpacing Haas’s Esteban Ocon and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly who hit the wall on his last attempt.

Liam Lawson was another SQ2 casualty finishing down in 14th for Racing Bulls.

Kimi Antonelli battles McLaren duo to claim pole

The stage was set for a thrilling SQ3 with the remaining ten drivers vying for pole. The final segment saw the times tumble rapidly as the track rubbered in and drivers pushed the limits.

Max Verstappen briefly held the top spot after beating George Russell’s early benchmark but the battle was far from over. Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris both delivered stellar laps for McLaren with Piastri falling just 0.045 seconds short of the eventual pole time.

In the dying moments of the 2025 F1 Miami GP Sprint Qualifying, Kimi Antonelli produced a stunning last-gasp effort stopping the clock at 1:26.482 to snatch pole from the McLaren duo.

The final order at the front saw Kimi Antonelli claim maiden F1 pole followed by Piastri and Norris who were separated by just fractions of a second.

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Verstappen unable to extract more from his Red Bull settled for fourth, two tenths down on Antonelli after completing two flying laps in SQ3. George Russell who had set his lap early in the segment rounded out the top five.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton lined up sixth and seventh both over three tenths adrift of the pole time. Alex Albon delivered a standout performance for Williams, securing eighth on the grid ahead of Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, who completed the top ten.

2025 Miami GP Sprint Qualifying Results