The Italian teenager broke an 18-year-old record in China to become the youngest pole sitter in Formula One history.
Published on 14 March 2026
Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli said it was “just the beginning” after recording pole with Mercedes predecessor and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton in China.
At 19 years, six months and 17 days, Antonelli became the youngest Formula One driver to take pole position for a full Grand Prix on Saturday.
Recommended stories
List of 4 itemsEnd of list
“A great record. It will take a while for anyone to approach it,” Ferrari driver Hamilton, who will replace Antonelli in 2025, told a news conference after qualifying third.
The previous record was set by now-retired German driver Sebastian Vettel when he put Red Bull-owned Toro Rosso (now Racing Bulls) on pole at the 2008 Italian Grand Prix on days 21 and 72.
Big question marks hung over Antonelli when he arrived at Mercedes as a rookie alongside current championship leader George Russell after Hamilton shocked the sport by moving to rivals Ferrari.
Despite Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff consistently hailing the Italian as a top-tier talent, pundits questioned whether the then-18-year-old could live up to Hamilton’s legacy.
“He took my spot! And he hit it hard from the get-go, so it’s really great to see him progress and he really deserves it,” Hamilton said as he sat next to Antonelli.
The Italian became his country’s first pole sitter since Giancarlo Fisichella for the Mercedes-powered Force India, now Aston Martin, in Belgium in 2009.
“I’m very happy because in the end, you know, it’s just the beginning,” said Antonelli, who had a sprint pole in Miami last year but has yet to win a race.
“Obviously there’s a lot more to come. And, yeah, really looking forward to tomorrow … the car is really good, the car is strong, yeah, a lot to play for tomorrow.”
Russell had no battery for Antonelli and got stuck in gear at the start of the final stage and then got just one flying lap for pole, which he converted to second on the grid.
“Many said the kid was too young to be at Mercedes, otherwise we should have prepared him. He did good today,” said Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.
“It’s a shame George can’t do a lap.”
Former champion Max Verstappen was just eighth fastest, continuing an unsatisfactory weekend at the clearly struggling Red Bull.
Sunday’s Grand Prix will be run over 56 laps of the 5.451km (3.387-mile) Shanghai International Circuit.
(tags to translate)news
