Antonelli Becomes Youngest Polesitter in F1 as Mercedes Lock Out Chinese GP Front Row

Teenage sensation Kimi Antonelli claimed his maiden Formula One pole position at the Chinese Grand Prix on Saturday, becoming the youngest polesitter in F1 history. The 19-year-old Mercedes driver edged out teammate George Russell in a dramatic qualifying session at the Shanghai International Circuit, where mechanical issues and late spins added unpredictability to the grid.

Antonelli set the pace in Q3 with a blistering 1m32.064s lap, securing a record-breaking pole that his rivals could not match. Russell, who had earlier won the Sprint race, encountered trouble during his Q3 out-lap when his Mercedes briefly stopped on track and subsequently became stuck in third gear. Despite a quick pit-side fix, Russell’s final attempt fell just over two-tenths of a second short, handing Mercedes a front-row lockout.

Ferrari completed the second row, with Lewis Hamilton narrowly outpacing teammate Charles Leclerc. The McLaren duo, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, will start from the third row, separated by only fractions of a second in a closely fought session.

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Further down the grid, reigning champion Max Verstappen struggled for pace in his Red Bull, starting eighth after Alpine’s Pierre Gasly split the Red Bulls with an impressive performance. The session also saw late drama in Q2 when Gabriel Bortoleto spun at the final corner, triggering yellow flags that disrupted several drivers’ final runs and contributed to unexpected eliminations.

In only his second season, Antonelli not only secured his first pole but also surpassed Sebastian Vettel’s record as the youngest polesitter, previously set in 2008. The result underscores Antonelli’s rapid rise in Formula One and sets the stage for an exciting Chinese Grand Prix, with Mercedes starting from a commanding front-row position.

2026 Chinese GP Qualifying Top 10:

1. Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes

2. George Russell – Mercedes

3. Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari

4. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari

5. Oscar Piastri – McLaren

6. Lando Norris – McLaren

7. Pierre Gasly – Alpine

8. Max Verstappen – Red Bull Racing

9. Isack Hadjar – Red Bull Racing

10. Oliver Bearman – Haas F1 Team

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