MIAMI GARDENS — In a dramatic qualifying session for the CRYPTO.com Miami Grand Prix Sprint Race, 18-year old Italian Kimi Antonelli became the youngest Formula One polesitter in any form of an F1 race.
Antonelli took the pole position with a lap of 1.26.482 on the 3.363-mile 19-turn circuit, besting current world championship points leader Oscar Piastri by .045-second and recording the fastest pole lap ever at the Miami International Autodrome. Defending race winner, Piastri’s McLaren Racing teammate Lando Norris, was third fastest.
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The teenager Antonelli was so excited by the performance he turned in on May 2, he wasn’t sure where to go for the formal pole presentation immediately after climbing out of his No. 12 Mercedes AMG. But he was certainly all smiles.
“I’m feeling over the moon,’’ Antonelli said. “It was a very tense qualifying, but I felt really good since this morning, and I felt confident going into qualifying. It all came together very nicely and very happy to get my first pole.
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“It will be nice to start on the front row and will be a bit of a different feeling but I really cannot wait to see how we can do in the sprint and then [grand prix] qualifying as well.’’
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Two-time Miami winner and four-time world champion Max Verstappen was fourth fastest for Red Bull Racing with Antonelli’s Mercedes teammate George Russell rounding out the top-five.
May 2, 2025; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli (12) talks to the media after winning the pole during F1 Miami Grand Prix Sprint Race Qualifying at Miami International Autodrome. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images
This Sprint Race – at noon on May 3 – is a 19-lap preview of what to expect for the next day’s Miami Grand Prix 57-lap main event. Qualifying for that race follows the sprint and is set for 4 p.m.
Max Verstappen, girlfriend Kelly Piquet welcome first child
Verstappen announced that he and longtime girlfriend Kelly Piquet have welcomed their first child, a girl named Lily.
“Welcome to the world, sweet Lily. Our hearts are fuller than ever – you are our greatest gift,’’ Verstappen posted on Instagram on May 2 to his 14 million-plus followers.
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Instead of rushing to South Florida, Verstappen, the two-time Miami Grand Prix winner, stayed an extra day close to his Monaco home to be with Piquet for the arrival of their child. Lily joins big sister Penelope, who Piquet had from a previous relationship
Fernando Alonso earns best starting position of season for Sprint Race
Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso earned his best starting position of the season for the May 3rd 19-lap Sprint Race. The Aston Martin driver advanced to the third round of qualifying and is hopeful the solid start to the weekend will pay off in the main event – the May 4 grand prix.
Alonso, the 2005 F1 champion, has yet to score a top-10 finish in the season’s five grand prix, with a best showing of 11th place twice (at Japan and Saudi Arabia). The Spanish driver’s last victory came at Barcelona in 2013.
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Alonso, a versatile competitor who has twice raced in the Indianapolis 500, conceded the season start has been slow and disappointing but remained optimistic the Aston Martin Aramco team will turn things around.
“It is not only one thing but a couple of factors that have made the car difficult in terms of pace and maybe not as fast as some of the midfields [cars],’’ Alonso said. “They have raised the level and are a lot closer to the top four and we didn’t make that step but still a long championship and we need to react and do things better and hopefully in the next few races we’ll have a step forward. But it has been more difficult than expected.“
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Kimi Antonelli becomes youngest Formula One polesitter for Miami GP sprint race
