Kimi Antonelli made Formula 1 history by taking pole position for the 2026 Chinese GP, becoming the youngest driver to achieve such a feat in the world championship. At 19 years, 6 months and 18 days, Antonelli broke the record that belonged to Sebastian Vettel, set at the 2008 Italian GP, when Vettel was 21 years, 2 months and 11 days old.
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With the achievement in Shanghai, Antonelli became the first teenager to take a pole in an F1 GP, and his name now leads a list that includes some of the greatest champions in the history of the category. Among the ten youngest to start at the front are Fernando Alonso, Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.
Check out the updated list of the ten youngest drivers to take pole position in Formula 1 below:
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Kimi Antonelli – 19 years, 6 months, 18 days – China 2026
Sebastian Vettel – 21 years, 2 months, 11 days – Italy 2008
Charles Leclerc – 21 years, 5 months, 15 days – Bahrain 2019
Fernando Alonso – 21 years, 7 months, 23 days – Malaysia 2003
Max Verstappen – 21 years, 10 months, 5 days – Hungary 2019
Lando Norris – 21 years, 10 months, 13 days – Russia 2021
Lance Stroll – 22 years, 0 months, 17 days – Turkey 2020
Rubens Barrichello – 22 years, 3 months, 5 days – Belgium 1994
Lewis Hamilton – 22 years, 5 months, 3 days – Canada 2007
Andrea de Cesaris – 22 years, 10 months, 4 days – USA West 1982
Antonelli’s mark not only puts the young driver in the spotlight, but also symbolizes the beginning of a new generation of talent that promises to shake up Formula 1 in the coming years.
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