Kimi Antonelli makes F1 history with sensational Miami sprint pole

Rookie Kimi Antonelli sensationally made F1 history by becoming the youngest polesitter in any qualifying format by setting the fastest time for the Miami sprint.

Out of the blue, in the top-10 shoot-out, Antonelli left his more experienced rivals trailing in his youthful wake as the 18-year-old posted a time of 1:26.482s, deposing Red Bull's Max Verstappen from top spot.

The big guns of McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris lined up behind him to deny him his shot at glory, but the Australian finished 0.045s shy, with the Briton a further 0.055s adrift, leaving Verstappen having to settle for fourth on the grid.

At just over 18 years and nine months old, Antonelli has obliterated the F1 pole record, although the mark set by Sebastian Vettel in the 2018 Italian Grand Prix of 21 years and 72 days was for a grand prix and will continue to be the target - for now!

On the soft tyres for SQ3, Verstappen set the benchmark with a 1:27.070s, only to be quickly deposed by Mercedes' George Russell by three-tenths of a second.

Verstappen stayed out for a second run on the same set of tyres, whilst Russell pitted as no tyre changes are permitted in the final session.

The four-time F1 champion's strategy paid off to a certain extent as he improved significantly on his second run, but even he, with so many age records to his name, will have to doff his cap to Antonelli on this one.  

Behind Verstappen, Russell will start fifth ahead of Ferrari pair Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, followed by Williams' Alex Albon, Isack Hadjar for Racing Bulls, and Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso. 

In beautiful, late-afternoon conditions, and with the medium-compound Pirellis the mandated tyre choice for SQ1, Russell and Antonelli led the way, the first time Mercedes has topped any session this season.

For Red Bull, it was a disaster again in a qualifying session, resulting in the shock exit of Yuki Tsunoda.

Needing a time on his second flying lap to get into the second session, after a mistake on the first run, Tsunoda came across a slow Verstappen at the final corner.

Unsure as to what his team-mate was doing, the loss of time was critical, leading to the Japanese driver finishing a miserable 18th.

Ahead of him will be Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and Alpine's Jack Doohan, the latter fuming with his team over the radio upon his return to the pits, describing their strategy as "unacceptable".

Behind Tsunoda on the back row will be Stake's Gabriel Bortoleto, and the surprising figure of Oliver Bearman in his Haas, rubbing salt into the British rookie's wounds after a late spin and a clip into a wall in the sole practice session brought it to a premature end.

With the medium rubber again required for SQ2, at the end of which Norris led the way with a lap of 1:27.109s, it was Williams' Carlos Sainz who was the key name to depart.

Sainz made a critical error at the final corner, locking up and taking to the escape road, leaving him to start 15th. Ahead of him. Albon had underlined what was possible in their car.

Nico Hulkenberg fell just 0.077s shy of giving Stake its first top-10 shoot-out opportunity of the year, with Hadjat ahead of him.

The veteran German will line up ahead of Esteban Ocon in his Haas, Alpine's Pierre Gasly, and Liam Lawson in his Racing Bulls, with the New Zealander six-tenths of a second behind team-mate Hadjar, and describing his performance as "so bad" over the radio.