Miami Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying Highlights: Kimi Antonelli Claims Pole As The Youngest Ever

In India, the Miami Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying will be available for live streaming on the FanCode app and website.

The race will start at 2:00 AM IST.

The sole practice session of the Miami Grand Prix saw chaos unfolding on track! Oscar Piastri ended the session with the fastest time, setting a timesheet of 1:27.128s – three-tenths faster than Charles Leclerc in second and Max Verstappen in third. But of course, the session didn’t go exactly as planned for everyone.

Lando Norris had a rough start to his weekend as McLaren’s mechanics made a blunder and sent him out with tools left in his cockpit! He had to return to the pits for a quick fix, but McLaren was even called out for an “unsafe” car condition

The biggest drama came when Oliver Bearman spun and crashed into the barriers at Turn 12, triggering a red flag. The incident meant a bunch of drivers.

Lewis Hamilton didn’t have the best time either, finishing 13th after struggling throughout the session. But let’s not forget Verstappen, who had a major personal milestone--he’s now a proud dad to a baby girl!

Four-time defending Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen arrived at the Miami Grand Prix on Friday as a first-time father after announcing he and partner Kelly Piquet had welcomed a daughter.

"Welcome to the world, sweet Lily," Verstappen and Piquet wrote Friday on Instagram. "Our hearts are fuller than ever -- you are our greatest gift. We love you so much." Read the full story HERE.

Of all drivers, Lando Norris holds a special place for Miami, because this is where he won his first Grand Prix race of his Formula 1 career and has won 5 races since then!

Oscar Piastri is aiming for his third win in a row. The last Australian driver to achieve that feat in F1 was Alan Jones in 1981.

None of Miami's three Grand Prix races so far have been won by the driver who started on pole position. Norris won last year from fifth on the grid.

McLaren's lead in the constructors' championship over Mercedes, the only other team with even half of McLaren's 188-point haul. Read the full preview HERE.

SQ1 is live -- drivers have just 12 minutes and only medium tyres for this session to lock in a lap good enough to stay out of the bottom five. The goal is to avoid P16 to P20 and secure a spot in SQ2 for a better shot at the Sprint grid tomorrow.

Kimi Antonelli pulls off a shocker in SQ1, beating Lando Norris by just 0.032s! Max Verstappen set the pace early, but the rookie’s lap stunned the field.

Meanwhile, some drama in the pit lane as Jack Doohan spotted an unsafe release from Racing Bulls.

16. Jack Doohan

17. Yuki Tsunoda

18. Gabriel Bortoleto

19. Oliver Bearman

20. Isack Hadjar

We see the chequered flag for SQ1! Yuki Tsunoda and Oliver Bearman are eliminated.

George Russell was the quickest in the SQ1, taking over teammate Kimi Antonelli on second. Alex Albon made it to third on the timesheets.

Eliminated:

16. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

17. Jack Doohan (Alpine)

18. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)

19. Gabriel Bortoleto (Kick Sauber)

20. Oliver Bearman (Haas)

Jack Doohan is furious with Alpine after a botched release in SQ1. The Aussie didn’t hold back on the team radio, calling it "not acceptable" and slamming the timing of his release compared to teammate Pierre Gasly. He’ll start 17th for tomorrow’s sprint.

Only Medium tyres!

McLaren’s drivers manoeuvring the car sees them sitting pretty in the top two, with Max Verstappen squeezed between a Mercedes sandwich! Charles Leclerc is in sixth, while Lewis Hamilton’s looking to build on his improved pace.

Hamilton drops down to 11th but he is pushing hard, not a chequered yet for him!

Meanwhile, Norris goes fastest in the second session! Verstappen is second.

11. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)

12. Esteban Ocon (Haas)

13. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

14. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)

15. Carlos Sainz (Williams)

Carlos Sainz was looking set to make it to SQ3, but a lock-up and a mistake sent him off the track, costing him a chance. On the bright side, Williams are looking strong this weekend, with Alex Albon securing a spot in SQ3.

1. Lando Norris (McLaren)

2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

3. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

4. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)

5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

6. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)

7. George Russell (Mercedes)

8. Alex Albon (Williams)

9. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

10. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)

Time for soft tyres!

With 4 mins remaining Max Verstappen and George Russell are out for the quickest lap.

It was a battle between Norris and Verstappen for the pole with Piastri making a late cameo but then the rookie, just 18 years old, out of nowhere came to the first to grab the pole!

His first pole of the F1 career!

And, he is the youngest pole sitter in any format of an F1 race, surpassing Sebastian Vettel.

1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) -- 1m26.482s

2. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

3. Lando Norris (McLaren)

4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

5. George Russell (Mercedes)

6. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

7. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)

8. Alex Albon (Williams)

9. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)

10. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

Kimi, not only became the youngest pole sitter, but also claimed it by setting the fastest lap ever done at the Miami Autodrome International Circuit. The previous fastest lap record at the track was set by Verstappen with 1:29.708, and today Antonelli finished the session 3 with 1:26.482s.

After the record-breaking race, Kimi Antonelli said, “It was a very intense qualifying. I felt really good since this morning and I felt good going into qualifying.

“The last lap was mighty. I put everything together, so I’m really happy to get the first pole.

“Tomorrow will be nice to start on the front row. It will be a bit of a different feeling but I can’t wait for tomorrow to see what we can do in the sprint and in qualifying.”

That's a wrap! Join us tomorrow again for the live coverage of the sprint race at the Miami Grand Prix. Till then, take care. Good Night!