Kimi Antonelli has etched his name into Formula 1 history after producing a stunning qualifying performance at the Chinese Grand Prix.
The teenage Mercedes driver delivered one of the standout laps of the 2026 season in Shanghai.
In doing so, he broke a record that had stood in the sport for nearly two decades.
Kimi Antonelli breaks Sebastian Vettel’s F1 pole record in Chinese GP qualifying
A clip circulating online, including a post shared on X, highlighted Antonelli’s remarkable milestone after his qualifying lap at the Chinese Grand Prix.
“Kimi Antonelli becomes the youngest driver to take pole for F1 grand prix, aged 19 years and 201 days,” the tweet revealed.
The Mercedes rookie produced a fastest lap of 1:32.064 during qualifying in Shanghai to secure his first career pole position.
His performance placed him ahead of teammate George Russell on the grid, giving Mercedes a front-row lockout for the race weekend.
More importantly, the result rewrote a piece of Formula 1 history by making Antonelli the youngest driver ever to take pole position for a Grand Prix.
Sebastian Vettel previously held the youngest F1 pole record since 2008
Before Antonelli’s breakthrough, the record belonged to Sebastian Vettel for nearly 18 years.
The German achieved the feat during qualifying for the 2008 Italian Grand Prix at Monza while driving for Toro Rosso.
Vettel was just 21 years and 72 days old when he secured pole position in wet conditions that weekend.
He would go on to convert that pole into a famous victory the following day, becoming one of the youngest race winners in Formula 1 history.
For years, Vettel’s record looked untouchable, but Antonelli’s rapid rise through the Mercedes junior program and his early success in Formula 1 have now rewritten that chapter of the sport’s record books.
At just 19 years old, the Italian driver has already shown why he is considered one of the most exciting young talents in modern F1.
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