CNN
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli became the youngest ever driver to claim an F1 pole position in any race format on Friday when he scorched around the track to ensure he will start at the front of the grid in the sprint event at the Miami Grand Prix.

The 18-year-old produced a brilliant performance in sprint qualifying to pip both McLaren drivers to the top spot, finishing just 0.045 seconds ahead of championship leader Oscar Piastri while Lando Norris took third.

Antonelli’s Mercedes teammate George Russell qualified in fifth place, behind the McLaren duo and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in fourth.

The Italian is increasingly making a habit of becoming the youngest F1 driver to reach various milestones – in April he became the youngest driver to ever record the fastest lap in a grand prix and to lead the race too. Such landmarks underline his immense potential in the sport.

“I’m feeling over the moon. I did not expect it, but I was feeling good in the car,” he told broadcaster Sky Sports afterwards.

“I did not see that coming, to be honest. I felt the lap was good, I was happy with it, how it all came together. There were still a few bits where I could have done a bit better but still super happy with how I put all the sectors together.

“Now I will enjoy this moment a little bit more, but at the same time I’m going to try to focus on tomorrow because it would be good to repeat ourselves.”

After Antonelli finished, he went straight to the Mercedes garage to find his dad, Marco, and the two shared an embrace.

“He’s like a rock for me because I can always rely on him and it’s really nice to share this moment with him,” he said afterwards.

He will have a golden opportunity to win his first ever F1 race on Saturday in the sprint event, before the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday.

CNN
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Ryan Garcia suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Rolando “Rolly” Romero on Friday night in Times Square, losing on points in his first fight since returning from a one-year doping ban.

Romero’s double left hook in the second round dropped Garcia, and while the 26-year-old got straight back to his feet, he struggled to find rhythm and his opponent was awarded a unanimous decision with scores of 115-112, 115-112 and 118-109.

“Just found myself very off after the year layoff. That whole year, it was a lot for me mentally,” said Garcia afterward.

“Just a lot of stuff I’ve got to figure out mentally, and then I’ll get back to it and you’ll see that aggression come out. I just didn’t have that tonight,” he added.

The bout came as part of the first boxing card ever held in Times Square, with Garcia arriving in a Batmobile and ring girls replaced by impersonators of the likes of Michael Jackson and Hulk Hogan.

The event, which was hosted by Saudi-backed Ring Magazine, was watched in person by about just 300 invited guests, including Mike Tyson and Roberto Durán, according to the BBC. Meanwhile, outside the makeshift arena, fans gathered to watch the bouts on big screens erected in Times Square.

Romero remained in control of the welterweight bout following his second-round hook, but it was a fight which lacked quality moments. The 490 combined punches thrown represents the third fewest in a 12-round fight since CompuBox started recording punches in 1985.

Garcia looked rusty in his first outing since he tested positive for the performance enhancing drug ostarine on the day before and day of his victory over Devin Haney in April 2024. The victory was later overturned into a no-contest while Garcia was suspended for a year by the New York State Athletic Commission.

At the time, Garcia denied the allegations, saying: “I’ve never taken a steroid. … I don’t even know where to get steroids at the end of the day … I barely take supplements.”

His loss to Romero on Friday, which leaves him on a record of 24-2 and one no-contest, has potentially dashed plans for a proposed rematch with Haney. Having achieved the biggest win of his career, it may be Romero – now 17-2 – who takes his place.

Haney had upheld his end of the bargain earlier on Friday, beating José Ramírez by unanimous decision.

Reuters
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Twice Olympic 100 metres medallist Fred Kerley has been arrested for allegedly punching hurdler and ex-girlfriend Alaysha Johnson in the face, police said on Friday, and, as a result, he will not compete in the Grand Slam Track event in Miami this weekend.

The alleged incident occurred on Thursday at a hotel where Johnson, who is listed as a competitor in the Miami event, had an appointment with her conditioning coach when she told police she ran into Kerley.

According to the arrest report, Johnson told the officer she was struck one time by Kerley in the face with a closed fist, causing her nose to bleed, after he had become aggressive and continued to approach her.

The report also said Johnson’s injuries were “consistent with her statements” and that the 29-year-old Kerley was charged with one count of “battery-touch or strike.”

Reuters has contacted Kerley’s representative for comment.

Kerley and Johnson dated for about six months but broke up last October, according to the arrest report.

Kerley, who won a bronze medal in the 100m final at the 2024 Paris Olympics and silver in the same distance at the 2020 Tokyo Games, was scheduled to compete in Miami in the 100m on Saturday and 200m on Sunday.

“Fred Kerley was arrested last night. The matter is under active investigation, and all inquiries should be directed to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office,” Grand Slam Track said in a statement. “Fred will not compete this weekend. We have no further comment at this time.”

Kerley competed in Grand Slam Track’s inaugural meet last month in Kingston, Jamaica.

Grand Slam Track, which will hold four meets in 2025, was created by four-times Olympic gold medallist Michael Johnson.

The circuit is a direct challenge to the Diamond League, long the standard-bearer for the sport worldwide, which hosts 15 meetings each year in cities from Xiamen to Zurich.