Andrea Kimi Antonelli Makes History with Miami Sprint Race Pole Position

In a stunning turn of events, 18-year-old racing prodigy Andrea Kimi Antonelli has made history by securing the youngest pole position in Formula 1 (F1) history for the Miami sprint race. Despite never racing on this circuit before, Antonelli quickly adapted and led the pack during Saturday’s sprint race.

The Risk That Paid Off

This bold move by Mercedes to replace seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton with a teenage rookie for the 2025 season has raised eyebrows, especially after Antonelli’s crash at Monza last year during his first free practice outing. However, with 38 points already under his belt, Antonelli has proven his worth by securing this significant milestone.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff defended their decision, stating that they wanted to provide Antonelli with a year of preparation within their own team. Despite the potential for mistakes, they were ready to take the risk to prepare him for the upcoming regulation changes and familiarize him with all circuits. Now, their courage is being rewarded as Antonelli continues to develop steadily without making errors.

Antonelli’s association with Mercedes dates back to 2019, and Wolff has witnessed his growth firsthand. “This young man was once standing next to me in the garage, wide-eyed and taking it all in,” he reminisced. “It feels like only yesterday, and now, the speed he’s showing is incredible.

Although this pole position is for a sprint qualifying event, Antonelli and his team must remain focused on the task ahead. As Wolff advised the cheering garage crew, “Let’s make sure we can replicate that performance in proper qualifying and for Sunday’s race.

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