Kimi Antonelli, a historic pole in Miami: "I did not expect it"
Andrea Kimi Antonelli rewrites the almanacs of Formula 1 and of Italian centering pole position in the Miami Sprint Race. A result that the Boot has been waiting for a very long time and that, considering the very young age of the Mercedes driver, is unprecedented in the history of the top motorsport series.
In fact, it had never happened before that Formula 1 featured a poleman who was only 18 years and 8 months old, although it was a Sprint Race and not an actual Grand Prix. The previous record for precocity was that of Sebastian Vettel, who at 21 years, 2 months and 11 days turned out to be the fastest of all in qualifying at the 2008 Italian Grand Prix d’Italia when he was at the wheel of a Toro Rosso. Now Antonelli has definitely filed that record.
In any case, Italy itself had been waiting for such an exploit for more than 25 years. In fact, the last Italian driver to score a pole position was Giancarlo Fisichella in the 2009 Belgian Grand Prix, hitting a small great feat on a personal level and not only since it was the first time ever for Force India. Antonelli had already turned out to be the youngest driver in Formula 1 to lead a race and set the fastest lap.
“I am very happy, because everything came very naturally to me. Qualifying was very intense and the final lap was really outstanding. I always defended myself well in qualifying, but I didn’t expect it. I was able to put it all together with the softs and I am really pleased. Also because I feel I have more and more confidence behind the wheel of this Mercedes”, Antonelli told ‘Sky Sport‘.
