Trending Now - Antonelli Sets F1 Record With Chinese GP Pole Position
WHO:
Kimi Antonelli, 19 years, six months, and 18 days old, became the youngest pole-sitter in Formula 1 history.
George Russell, Mercedes driver, experienced a gearbox problem during qualifying.
Lewis Hamilton, driving for Ferrari, finished third in qualifying.
Charles Leclerc, also driving for Ferrari, qualified fourth.
Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, driving for McLaren, qualified fifth and sixth respectively.
Max Verstappen, driving for Red Bull, qualified eighth.
Toto Wolff, Mercedes team principal.
Marcus Dudley, George Russell's race engineer.
WHAT:
Antonelli broke Sebastian Vettel's 18-year record for the youngest pole-sitter, previously set at 21 years, two months, and 11 days during the 2008 Italian Grand Prix.
Antonelli's qualifying lap was 0.222 seconds faster than Russell's.
Russell reported major understeer and gear-shifting issues during qualifying.
Russell won the earlier sprint race, extending his championship lead to 11 points.
Hamilton finished 0.351 seconds off the pace in qualifying.
WHERE:
The qualifying session took place at the Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai, China.
WHEN:
The qualifying session occurred on March 14th, 2026.
The previous record by Sebastian Vettel was set on September 14th, 2008.
WHY:
Antonelli's pole position was facilitated by Russell's mechanical issues during qualifying.
HOW:
Russell's car experienced a gearbox problem that caused him to stop on track during Q3, limiting his qualifying attempts.
(UPDATED March 14, 2026 19:09 UTC)
In a historic moment for Formula 1, Kimi Antonelli became the youngest pole-sitter ever at just 19 years, six months, and 18 days old, breaking Sebastian Vettel's long-standing record from 2008. The qualifying session at the Shanghai International Circuit saw George Russell struggling with a gearbox problem that hindered his performance, allowing Antonelli to clock a lap 0.222 seconds faster than Russell, who had previously won the sprint race. Lewis Hamilton finished third, while Charles Leclerc qualified fourth, and both McLaren drivers, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, took fifth and sixth respectively.