An Italian teenager has become the youngest pole sitter in F1 history, breaking an 18-year-old record in China.
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Published March 14, 2026
Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli says this is “just the beginning” after setting a pole record in China as Mercedes’ predecessor and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton lavished him with praise.
At 19 years, six months and 17 days old, Antonelli became the youngest F1 driver to take pole position at Saturday’s Grand Prix.
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“It’s a great record. It will be a while before anyone approaches that record,” Hamilton, the Ferrari driver whose seat Antonelli takes in 2025, said at a press conference after qualifying third.
The previous record was set by now-retired German driver Sebastian Vettel when he led Red Bull’s Toro Rosso (now Racing Bulls) to pole position at the 2008 Italian Grand Prix at the age of 21 years and 72 days.
After Hamilton shocked the sport by moving to rival Ferrari, there were big question marks over Antonelli, who arrived at Mercedes as a rookie alongside current championship leader George Russell.
Pundits doubted whether the then 18-year-old could live up to Hamilton’s legacy, despite Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff consistently touting the Italian as a top-class talent.
“He took my seat! And he hit hard from the start, so it’s been really great to see him progress and he really deserves it,” said a beaming Hamilton, sitting next to Antonelli.
The Italian became the country’s first pole sitter since Giancarlo Fisichella of Mercedes-powered team Force India (now Aston Martin) in Belgium in 2009.
“I’m very happy, because at the end it’s just the beginning,” said Antonelli, who won the sprint pole in Miami last year but has yet to win a race.
“Obviously, there’s a lot ahead of us. And, yeah, I’m really looking forward to tomorrow…The car feels really good, the car is strong, so we have to play a lot for tomorrow.”
Antonelli only had one flying lap to take pole position, which he moved up to second on the grid, helped by Russell’s dead battery and a jammed gear at the start of the final phase.
“A lot of people said this kid was too young to be in Mercedes, but we should have prepared him otherwise. He performed well today,” said Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.
“It’s a shame George couldn’t run a lap.”
Former champion Max Verstappen was only eighth, continuing a disappointing weekend for Red Bull, who are clearly struggling.
Sunday’s Grand Prix will be raced over 56 laps around the 5.451km (3.387 miles) Shanghai International Circuit.
