In a thrilling display of talent at the 2025 Miami Grand Prix, Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli earned high praise from reigning four-time World Champion Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Lando Norris for his remarkable performance. The 18-year-old Italian, stepping into the spotlight as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement, showcased his potential by securing his maiden Formula 1 pole position in the Sprint race and finishing third in Grand Prix qualifying, outpacing his experienced teammate George Russell twice over the weekend.
Antonelli’s Miami weekend was a breakthrough moment in his nascent F1 career. Despite facing immense pressure as a driver touted as “the next Verstappen,” he delivered a composed and rapid performance. In the Sprint qualifying, Antonelli stormed to pole, a historic achievement that made him the youngest pole-sitter in F1 history. His pace carried into the Grand Prix qualifying, where he secured third on the grid, beating Russell for the first time in a main event. Verstappen, speaking in the post-qualifying press conference, expressed admiration for the rookie’s speed. “When you just start in Formula 1, there’s so much to learn, and to already be at this pace is very impressive,” he said, adding, “I’m not surprised at the same time. He’ll only get better, to be honest. It’s as simple as that.” Norris, seated alongside Verstappen and Antonelli, echoed the sentiment with a smile, noting, “He’s in Formula 1 for a reason,” though he jokingly refrained from feeding Antonelli’s ego further after earlier compliments.
The race itself presented challenges for Antonelli, who struggled with tyre management, particularly on the hard compound. Starting strong, he capitalized on a first-lap clash between Verstappen and Norris to briefly hold second place. However, the superior race pace of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Norris saw them overtake him, and Antonelli ultimately finished sixth. A slow pit stop, compounded by Mercedes’ need to hold him momentarily to avoid a collision with Carlos Sainz, cost him a shot at a podium. Despite these setbacks, Antonelli’s ability to maintain a pace comparable to Russell’s, even while on less favorable medium tyres, underscored his potential.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff singled out Antonelli for his single-lap brilliance, acknowledging that race pace remains an area for improvement. “The high point definitely was seeing his speed on a single lap, great,” Wolff said, while noting the team’s struggles to match McLaren’s race-long performance. Antonelli himself reflected on the weekend with maturity, admitting, “The start was good. Afterwards, I started to struggle with pace, obviously really difficult to keep up with the McLarens.” His five top-six finishes in the first six races of 2025, including Miami, have helped Mercedes secure second in the Constructors’ Championship, with Antonelli sitting sixth in the Drivers’ standings.
The praise from Verstappen and Norris, both of whom navigated their own intense battles in Miami, highlights Antonelli’s rapid adaptation to F1’s elite level. Verstappen, who finished fourth after a lockup and clash with Norris, acknowledged Antonelli’s ability to handle the pressure of replacing a legend like Hamilton. Norris, who recovered from a first-lap drop to finish second behind teammate Piastri, recognized the rookie’s raw talent, even as he focused on his own race dynamics. IndyCar star and F1 TV pundit James Hinchcliffe, in his quarterly report card on Antonelli, upgraded the rookie’s rating to an A- after Miami, citing his reduced qualifying deficit to Russell from 0.4 to 0.25 seconds and his ability to stay composed under scrutiny.
Antonelli’s Miami performance has silenced some doubters who questioned his rapid promotion to Mercedes. With the European season kicking off at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, the young Italian’s trajectory suggests he is poised to build on this momentum. As Verstappen and Norris both noted, Antonelli’s current pace is just the beginning, and the F1 world is eagerly watching to see how this prodigy continues to shine.