Kimi Antonelli’s spine-tingling F1 Miami pole proves Mercedes’ gamble paid off

It was a moment that redefined the record books and heralded the arrival of the brightest young talent in Formula 1.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s pole lap for the F1 Miami Grand Prix sprint race was as spine-tingling as it it was significant. He confirmed his arrival at the sport’s top table with a scintillating lap that was not only a new record for the Miami Grand Prix, but at 18 years and 250 days old he also became the youngest polesitter in any format in Formula 1.

Those of us who have followed Antonelli’s career closely, Friday’s achievement at Hard Rock Stadium reconfirms the feeling that he is a special talent and underlines the brave decision Mercedes boss Toto Wolff made in selecting the teenager to fill the shoes of Hamilton when he announced he was joining Ferrari.

At the time, there were those in the paddock who scoffed at the idea of promoting the team’s young driver citing that perhaps out-of-work Carlos Sainz would have been a better option. But those doubters have now been silenced in the emphatic lap that totalled a smidge over 86 seconds.

Antonelli has been quietly going about his business. An incredibly personable character who first faced the F1 media at Silverstone last year. At the time, he had been linked with the seat at Mercedes and spoke openly about his ambition to reach F1. He was not boastful or over-confident. He was honest, spoke with an openness. It was refreshing.

Antonelli, who attended the Autosport Awards in January, celebrated the pole over the team’s radio with exuberance, but it was the reaction from those around him that offered up perhaps the most emotional moment.

His father, Marco, was in the Mercedes garage and as the TV cameras panned in his direction he painted a picture that was a mix of pride and exuberance. Minutes later, he made a phone call to his mum in Italy as they shared the excitement as a family.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images

Those hours spent at the karting tracks over the years, not to mention the thousands of dollars invested in their son’s career to help him climb through the junior ranks to reach the top.

There may have been times when they had considered whether the sacrifices were worth it – but the decision to keep going was vindicated with that pole lamp.

“We are one family,” Marco Antonelli said, “we transmit that in life, you need to work, always. Very hard and not complain before you understand.

“We are a normal family that work every day. And I think that Kimi understood this and this [result] is a very big pleasure for us.”

It was not just his family who shared the delight. His teammate George Russell was waiting to congratulate him as he pulled into the pits. So too his race engineer, Peter ‘Bono’ Bonnington, who gave the teenager a great big bearhug.

Bono was the man who had forged that crucial partnership with Hamilton that had spawned all those titles and success at Mercedes. He is now replicating that bond with Antonelli.

Antonelli was 11 when he was signed to the Mercedes driver academy and under the stewardship of talent scout, Gwen Lagrue; the man trusted for unearthing racing gems and polishing them to perfection – and his latest discovery has already turned into a diamond.

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