Historic day for Antonelli

MERC DRIVER YOUNGEST EVER ON POLE, RUSSELL WINS SHANGHAI SPRINT

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HAPPY TEEN: Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli celebrates winning the pole position after the qualifying session ahead of today's Formula One Chinese Grand Prix.

Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli became the youngest Formula One driver to take pole position for a full grand prix after qualifying fastest for Mercedes in China yesterday as teammate George Russell hit car trouble.

The 19-year-old qualified 0.222 seconds faster than his championship-leading teammate, who secured the front-row lockout with his one final flying lap after a rare setback for the dominant team of the sport's new engine era.

Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton was third fastest, a strong position for the seven-time world champion who can hope for a quick start today.

Antonelli, who has yet to win a grand prix, was already the youngest pole-sitter in any format after leading qualifying for last year's Miami sprint.

But in Shanghai yesterday he demolished Sebastian Vettel's previous grand prix record that the German set as a 21-year-old in 2008.