Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli said it was just the beginning after he set a pole record in China on Saturday with Mercedes predecessor and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton lavishing praise on him.

At 19 years, six months and 17 days Antonelli became the youngest Formula One driver ever to take pole position for a full grand prix.

"A great record. It's going to take a while for someone to ever get close to that one," Ferrari driver Hamilton, whose 2025 Mercedes exit made room for Antonelli, told a news conference after qualifying third.

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