Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli is currently the standout figure in Formula 1 – and he is rewriting the series’ record books. While drivers before him had managed to secure either their first three pole positions in succession or their first three grand prix victories in succession, no one had ever combined both streaks. Antonelli has now achieved exactly that.
“It’s a cool stat,” Antonelli said when asked about his remarkable accomplishment after the Miami Grand Prix. “I didn’t know, but don’t really want to think too much about it. I’m just going to enjoy the moment. But yeah, it’s cool, I guess.”
Antonelli claimed his first pole position a month and a half ago at the Chinese Grand Prix. The following day, he secured his maiden Formula 1 victory. He then continued that form in the next rounds: pole position and victory in Japan, followed by pole position and victory in Miami. After just four race weekends in the 2026 season, Antonelli sits comfortably at the top of the championship standings – and has firmly established himself as a genuine title contender.
From a purely statistical perspective, Antonelli’s achievement is a promising omen in two respects. Before him, only Ayrton Senna in 1985 with Lotus and Michael Schumacher in 1994 with Benetton recorded their first three pole positions consecutively. Both went on to become multiple Formula 1 world champions, with Schumacher securing his first title in that very same year.
However, neither Senna nor Schumacher managed to claim their first three grand prix victories consecutively. That feat was instead accomplished by Damon Hill in 1993 with Williams and Mika Hakkinen across 1997 and 1998 with McLaren. Hill and Hakkinen also went on to become world champions – Hill in 1996, Hakkinen in 1998 and 1999.
Michael Schumacher claimed his first three pole positions in succession in 1994
Photo by: Ercole Colombo
The fact that only two drivers before Antonelli had achieved either of these comparable milestones – and that all of them went on to enjoy major championship success – is likely to further validate Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff’s early decision to promote Antonelli to the works Formula 1 team as a teenager. That gamble is already paying off handsomely in Antonelli’s second season.
Yet Wolff was quick to temper expectations after the Miami Grand Prix. Speaking to Sky Sports UK, he said: “I hope he can continue on this positive slope. Most important is not to be carried away.”
Still, Antonelli’s results so far offer Wolff every reason to be optimistic about what lies ahead: “He has […] the speed. And now we add to that some more experience. I think we’re talking about lots of success in the future.”
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