After a difficult Sprint, Kimi Antonelli perfectly responded in qualifying. The Mercedes driver confirms his incredible streak with a new pole.
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The ability to react of great drivers is often observed in delicate moments, and Andrea Kimi Antonelli gave a perfect demonstration during the 2026 Miami Grand Prix. Just a few hours after a frustrating Sprint, the young Italian managed to reverse the trend with authority.
At the end of a particularly tight qualifying session, the Mercedes driver went to claim his third pole position in his career. A performance all the more remarkable as it is part of an exceptional streak, with three consecutive poles since China.
“It has been an incredible day, I am still on pole. It was a difficult start to the day with a Sprint that did not go as we wanted, but we recovered well and it was a good qualifying” he said.
An already historic performance
With this new pole, Antonelli enters a very exclusive circle. He becomes the first driver since Michael Schumacher to sign his first three poles consecutively, a rare feat in the history of Formula 1.
Before him, only Ayrton Senna had achieved such a streak right from his debut at the top. A flattering comparison that testifies to the precocity and talent of the young Mercedes driver, already firmly established among the references on the grid.
However, not everything was perfect for Antonelli in the final phase. During his second flying lap in Q3, the Italian made a small mistake, a direct consequence of overcommitment.
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“I was a bit too excited on my second lap in Q3, but fortunately the first lap was enough and I am very happy that it was the case” he admitted with clarity.
After setting his time, he had to wait in the garage, watching his rivals try to dethrone him. A particularly stressful wait, as he explains himself: “I was very stressed because I was waiting for everyone to finish their lap, but the one I had done before was enough and I am satisfied.”
The challenge of the start now in sight
Although he shone over one lap, Antonelli knows the hardest part remains to be done. Since the start of the season, his starts have often been improvable, a point he will have to correct in order to convert this pole into a victory.
“I hope the magic will happen tomorrow, it would be good to not lose places. We will do our best, the weekend has been more difficult but we are not giving up and we will try to do our best” he concluded.
In such a tight pack, the slightest mistake could be costly. But with such momentum, Antonelli has all the cards in hand to confirm his status as the new sensation of Formula 1.
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