18yo creates history at Miami GP after pipping Piastri in sprint qualifying

Mercedes' Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli became F1's youngest pole sitter in any format after lapping fastest in the Miami Grand Prix sprint qualifying. Oscar Piastri leaps to the defence of Lando Norris after ex-Formula 1 world champion Alan Jones suggests the Briton lacks mental toughness. The 18-year-old, preparing for only his sixth grand prix weekend, lapped with a best time of one minute and 26.

482 seconds to pip Australia's championship leader Oscar Piastri by 0.045. Piastri's McLaren teammate Lando Norris was third fastest, with Red Bull's four-times world champion Max Verstappen completing the second row on the day he announced he had become a father for the first time.



"The last lap was mighty. I put everything together. I'm really happy to get the first pole," said a surprised Antonelli, who replaced seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes in January.

The previous youngest ever pole sitter was Sebastian Vettel at the age of 21 years and 73 days in 2008 at the Italian Grand Prix, before sprint races existed. Piastri leads closest rival Norris by 10 points on the championship standings and will be chasing his third grand prix win in a row in the main event on Monday AEST. Qualifying for the race taking place after the sprint.

"We can still fight from there in the sprint tomorrow. All in all pretty happy," Piastri said. "We've got a bit more pace to unlock hopefully, so I'm feeling positive still.

I'll try to make up a spot in the sprint before we get stuck into where the big points are." Hamilton, winner of the first sprint race of the season in China from pole position for Ferrari, qualified seventh with teammate Charles Leclerc sixth. Mercedes' George Russell will line up in fifth position.

Only the top eight places in the 100km race on Sunday AEST score points. Williams had Alex Albon qualify eighth, with French rookie Isack Hadjar ninth for Racing Bulls and Fernando Alonso completing the top 10 for Aston Martin. Australia's Jack Doohan, driving for Alpine Renault, was 17th in the qualifying stage.

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