New Headline: Young Rookie Antonelli Dominates as Russell Faces Engineering Challenges
Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes during a Free Practice Session Two as part of the 2026 Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne. Joel Carrett/AAP/dpa Teenager Kimi Antonelli became the youngest pole sitter in Formula One history when he topped qualifying in China from Mercedes team-mate George Russell who had a problem-marred session after winning the sprint race earlier on Saturday. Antonelli clocked 1 minute 32.
064 seconds on the 5. 451 kilometres Shanghai International Circuit, . 222 of a second ahead of Russell.
The Ferraris of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, with McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and world champion Lando Norris next. At age 19 and 201 days Antonelli dethroned Sebastian Vettel who was 21 years 73 when he got pole in Monza in 2008 for Toro Rosso. Antonelli was first on the grid at a sprint race in Miami last year but pole positions only count for proper grands prix.
Mercedes kept their dominance after Russell had won the season-opener in Australia from Antonelli and the sprint in China from Leclerc and Hamilton earlier Saturday. But it was nervy afternoon for Russell who first reported a broken front wing at the end of Q2 and then stopped on the track at the start of Q3. He managed to get back into the pits where the team won a race against time to get him out for one timed lap which was enough to get onto the first row on Sunday's race.
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull had to be content with eighth place, after missing the points in the sprint with ninth place. Aston Martin's struggles continued as Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll went out in Q1 along with Williams drivers Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon as well as veterans Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez from new team Cadillac.