F1 2025 Miami Grand Prix Sprint Race starting grid with penalties app…read more
Kimi Antonelli has made Formula 1 history by securing pole position for the 2025 Miami Grand Prix sprint race, becoming the youngest-ever pole-sitter in any F1 race format. The 18-year-old Mercedes rookie delivered a sensational performance in Friday’s Sprint Qualifying session, clocking a lap time of 1:26.482, which not only handed him his first pole but also marked the fastest-ever lap at the Miami International Autodrome. This achievement breaks Sebastian Vettel’s long-standing record by a remarkable two and a half years, underlining Antonelli’s rapidly rising star in the sport.
Despite having no prior experience on the Miami circuit, Antonelli demonstrated incredible confidence and precision, edging out both McLaren drivers in a tightly contested session. Championship leader Oscar Piastri finished just 0.045 seconds behind in second place, while team-mate Lando Norris secured third with a time only a tenth slower than Antonelli’s benchmark. The McLaren pair appeared strong throughout the session, but it was the teenage sensation from Mercedes who stole the show.
Defending world champion Max Verstappen had to settle for fourth place on the grid. The Red Bull driver was unable to match the pace of the front-runners, finishing 0.255 seconds off Antonelli’s time. George Russell, Antonelli’s team-mate at Mercedes, qualified fifth, narrowly ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.
Hamilton, now driving for Ferrari, continues to struggle with the SF-25 chassis and has openly expressed frustration with his form this season. The seven-time world champion could only manage seventh, nearly six-tenths off the pole time, as he watched his former team celebrate their new prodigy’s breakthrough. The contrast in fortunes between Hamilton and Antonelli highlights a significant shift at Mercedes since the Briton’s departure.
Rounding out the top ten were Alex Albon of Williams, who impressed with eighth place, Isack Hadjar for Racing Bulls in ninth, and veteran Fernando Alonso in tenth for Aston Martin. Nico Hulkenberg (Kick Sauber) and Esteban Ocon (Haas) just missed out on the top ten, while Alpine drivers Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan, along with Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson, were further down the order.
Notably, Carlos Sainz in the second Williams only managed 15th, while Yuki Tsunoda in the Red Bull suffered a disappointing qualifying and will start from 18th. Gabriel Bortoleto and Oliver Bearman complete the grid in 19th and 20th respectively.
The 2025 Miami Grand Prix sprint race takes place on Saturday, May 3. The race will begin at 12pm local time (EDT), with corresponding global start times including 5pm BST in the UK, 6pm CEST in Europe, 11am CDT in the U.S., and 2am AEST on Sunday for Australian viewers. The sprint promises to be an exciting affair, especially with Antonelli starting from the front and looking to convert his historic pole into a memor
able victory.
