Kimi Antonelli says he didn’t anticipate his beautiful F1 pole place for the dash race on the Miami Grand Prix.
The 18-year-old Italian rookie, who was signed as seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton’s alternative at Mercedes, grew to become the youngest driver to take an F1 pole place in Miami.
Antonelli produced an impressive lap to outpace the McLaren pair of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris by a slim margin and safe his place on the very entrance of the grid for Saturday’s shorter dash race.
“I didn’t see that coming. I felt the lap was good and I used to be proud of it,” Antonelli advised Sky Sports activities F1.
“There have been nonetheless just a few bits I might have performed higher however I used to be tremendous proud of how I put all of the sectors collectively. I’ll get pleasure from this second however concentrate on tomorrow as a result of it could be good to repeat that consequence.
“McLaren, Ferrari and Pink Bull have robust race tempo however we’re fairly shut. It will likely be necessary to have a great begin, then set a great tempo with out degrading [the tyres] an excessive amount of.”
It marked the primary time this season that Antonelli has crushed Mercedes teammate George Russell in qualifying.
Russell ended up fifth, 0.309s behind Antonelli after finishing his sole SQ3 lap sooner than his rivals.
“Each weekend I be taught massively,” Antonelli added. “Final week, having a break actually helped me to assemble info and course of all of it and recharging the batteries, it was actually good.
“The entire qualifying I felt I used to be in a position to make a step lap by lap. I am way more conscious of the best way to do a constant heat up and extract extra out of the tyres however there’s loads to enhance.
“Each weekend I get extra assured with the automobile, can play with it extra and discover the bounds. On the identical time, I can perceive extra from the set-up and provides significantly better suggestions which permits the group to enhance the automobile.”
Antonelli’s emotional celebration with father
Antonelli was seen embracing his father Marco as Mercedes wildly celebrated his milestone achievement.
“My dad has been coming for the reason that begin of the season,” Antonelli mentioned of his celebrations along with his father.
“He’s like a rock for me as a result of I can at all times depend on him and it is good to share this second with him.”
In a separate interview, Marco advised Sky Sports activities F1: “For the time being it is tough to say what I really feel. After 5 races, it is unbelievable that he is on pole.
“Sure it is a Dash race however we now have had a great begin!
“We’re one household that tries to transmit that in life it’s important to work laborious, do not complain earlier than you perceive in case you did a great job or not, concentrate on the long run.
“We’re a standard household. We work day by day and I feel we’re nothing particular apart from a household making an attempt to offer their youngsters one of the best for all times.
“Kimi understood this and that is the consequence.”
