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Antonelli Secures the Record for Youngest PoleKym Illman - Getty Images

In the second grand prix of his second season on the grid, Kimi Antonelli became the youngest driver to capture a pole position, thanks to a 1:32.064 lap around the Shanghai International Circuit. Antonelli now holds the record with his first pole position coming 201 days after his 19th birthday.

Antonelli usurped Sebastian Vettel as the youngest to start from the front of a grand prix. The German driver survived a rainy qualifying in Monza to put it on pole for the 2008 Italian Grand Prix at 21 years 73 days old. The next day, he would back it up with a win, becoming the youngest driver to win in F1 history at the time. His record was broken eight years later by Max Verstappen at 18.

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It looked like grand prix qualifying for the second race was about to follow the same formula as the opening round and sprint qualifying earlier this weekend, with the two Mercedes of Antonelli and Russell pulling away from the field with times in Q3. Instead, Russell suffered early stalling on track three minutes into Q3.

While Russell, the pole sitter in the first two events, sat in the Mercedes garage waiting for repairs, Antonelli went to the top of the boards and stayed.

Antonelli's first and second run times were enough to keep the other eight drivers at bay, while Russell made it out for a last-minute attack on pole position with seconds to spare. The British driver's best time fell 0.222 seconds behind his young teammate, but was good enough to lock up another Mercedes front row.

Russell's last-ditch effort demoted the Ferrari drivers, who showed pace and passion earlier Saturday morning in the sprint to the second row, with Lewis Hamilton, last year's winner, starting third next to his teammate Charles Leclerc.

The McLarens came alive in Q3 for grand prix qualifying the same way they did for sprint qualifying Friday morning, with Oscar Piastri securing fifth and Lando Norris sixth.

Pierre Gasly made a rare Q3 appearance for Alpine to lock up seventh next to Max Verstappen, who continues to struggle at the start of the season with the new Red Bull.

Verstappen's new teammate Isack Hadjar qualified ninth, looking like he may match his Q3 appearance success of 2025 but following from his podium qualifying last weekend.

Oliver Bearman had the worst Q3 time and will start in tenth position.

Earlier in qualifying, the Audi of Gabriel Bortoleto overcommitted into turn 16 at the end of his last flying lap and slid across the gravel pit into the wall, ending his chances of a Q3 appearance.

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