Kimi Antonelli joins elite club including Michael Schumacher after Miami GP qualifying performance
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli has joined an elite club including Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher after his Miami Grand Prix qualifying performance.
Kimi Antonelli has now joined a legendary pair of drivers in the Formula 1 record books after a masterful performance in the Miami Grand Prix qualifying.
The Italian, who has helped to set the standard for Mercedes in 2026 with two race wins alongside Australian Grand Prix opening race winner George Russell, has continued his dominant year with a record-breaking performance at the Hard Rock Stadium.
Antonelli is now the third man to have claimed the first three pole positions of his career at three successive races - with Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher preceding him.
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Schumacher is the joint record holder alongside Lewis Hamilton for the most Formula 1 titles of all time with seven, and Senna is regarded as one of the greatest drivers in the sport's history.
Despite a return to form for Red Bull and Max Verstappen, and Ferrari also firmly in the mix, Antonelli was not to be denied as he made it three poles in row, joining an elite Formula 1 club with two of the sport’s greatest athletes.
The Italian, who is looking forward to a “magic” day tomorrow in the Miami Grand Prix, described his feelings after another dominant performance.
“It’s been an amazing day to be on pole again. It was a difficult start with the Sprint when it didn’t go our way, but super happy with the recovery,” said Antonelli.
“I got a bit excited with the last lap in Q3 but the first lap was good enough and I'm really happy with that,” he continued.
On tomorrow’s race and the start, Antonelli said: “Hopefully a magic one happens tomorrow. It would be nice to not lose any positions but we will do our best.
“This weekend has been more difficult for us but we are keeping it together and maximising the performance, so I'm happy with that,” continued the 19-year-old.
His Silver Arrows teammate, Russell, finished fifth in Q3 - the first time that a Mercedes has finished outside of the top two in Grand Prix qualifying this season.
Elsewhere, Verstappen put his Red Bull on the front row despite not finishing higher than eighth in 2026's first three qualifying sessions.
Miami Grand Prix qualifying results
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- George Russell (Mercedes)
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
- Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
- Nico Hulkenberg (Audi)
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
- Oliver Bearman (Haas)
- Carlos Sainz (Williams)
- Esteban Ocon (Haas)
- Alex Albon (Williams)
- Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
- Sergio Perez (Cadillac)
- Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)
Topics: Formula 1, Mercedes, Motorsport
Kedar Bayley