Kimi Antonelli: Veni, vidi, and maybe vici the Miami Sprint Race

Antonelli thus becomes the youngest driver to start a Formula 1 race from pole position. That it is a P1 start for a Sprint rather than a Grand Prix matters little. The young Italian has repaid the enormous faith and investment made in his career by Mercedes and team boss Toto Wolff, who had the guts to place the teenager into one of the hottest seats in Formula 1.

The “Kid” has risen to the occasion, dialling himself in impressively as a partner to highly-rated George Russell. That he delivered such a performance on Friday in Miami, long before anyone expected it, is telling—and a good sign for the future.

There are no 'growing pains' afflicting this rookie, while up and down the grid newcomers and veterans alike struggle to come to terms with their new cars and teams. Not so Kimi.

Johnny Herbert, like most of the Formula 1 world, is highly impressed: “There were a lot of doubters when Kimi Antonelli was announced as Mercedes' next driver. He didn't do amazingly in F2, but the team underperformed, and then he had the embarrassment of his Monza crash, which was his first public appearance for Mercedes.

“Then there were question marks appearing—people were asking if he was ready for F1. Those question marks are completely gone now, because Antonelli has done a brilliant job, the mature job for such a young man. Antonelli has a great capacity to deal with external, internal, his own and Toto Wolff's pressures," Herbert told the media team at AceOdds.

The more experienced Briton had out-qualified Kimi 5–0. The Sprint Race Qualy changes that and marks a wake-up call for the Mercedes team leader Russell as he contemplates the three-tenths of a second extra Anotnelli found around the Hard Rock Stadium yesterday.

Herbert observed: “Antonelli is working well with Russell too, but beating him in races will be the main objective. The way he's maturing, I don't think that obstacle is too far away for Kimi.”

The former F1 driver and FIA Race Steward turned pundit also had words of praise for Russell: “I'm not surprised by George Russell's speed or consistency this season—he's proving a lot of people wrong. He has a very smart head on his shoulders.

“Russell is doing all this with a young whippersnapper as his teammate, who has the backing of Toto Wolff. There's been about three-tenths difference between them, which is impressive from Russell to create that gap.

“Yes, it's Antonelli's first season, but he did thousands of kilometres during last season, so he was more than ready to get in the car. Russell is delivering. I love his demeanour and confidence—people find it arrogant, but all the best drivers are arrogant."

“You have to have an element of arrogance to be successful on the race track. We want to see Russell go head-to-head with Max Verstappen because they're producing some exciting racing together. They’ve had their disagreements on and off the track, and it will continue,” predicted Herbert.

Final word to Wolff on the gem he has uncovered and the Kid’s historic performance in Miami on Friday: “Congratulations to Kimi on his first Sprint pole position in F1. It was a great lap in a tight session and will be a moment he will never forget.

“Whilst it is good that we will start tomorrow's Sprint from P1, the most important thing is the progress we are seeing from Kimi. He continues to learn and get better every weekend. He has now topped a session, even if it came in Sprint Qualifying.

“It is another important milestone in his development, and we will continue to support him to maintain this trajectory,” added Wolff of his protege, and F1's latest sensation: Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

The Italian teenager will line up P1 for the Sprint Race on Saturday, surrounded by the F1's current 'hot properties' including McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen in the mix. A 'welcome to the sharp end' baptism by fire awaits young Kimi today!