Max Verstappen achieved his third pole position in just four races by narrowly outpacing Lando Norris during the qualifying session for the Miami Grand Prix. Initially, McLaren was favored to occupy the front row after a solid one-two finish in the sprint race, but Verstappen’s performance showcased his exceptional driving skills and the strengths of the Red Bull Racing car.
In the opening sector, Verstappen capitalized on the advantages of his machine, leveraging its superior handling to perform remarkably well, even as he faced challenges with his rear axle during the first turn. He clocked a time that was nearly 0.2 seconds quicker than Norris in that first split. Despite the difficulties, Verstappen managed to maintain his pace without significant loss, ultimately securing his pole position with a slim margin of just 0.065 seconds.
Reflecting on his qualifying run, Verstappen expressed satisfaction with the outcome. He noted, “It’s been a great qualifying. I think we improved the car a tiny amount as well, which helped me to rotate it a bit better. Each session—Q1, Q2, Q3—saw improvements as I pushed to find the limits. The tire conditions here are quite tricky, but it all worked out in the end, and I’m thrilled to be on pole.”
On the other hand, Lando Norris, who had the fastest middle sector, acknowledged the challenges he faced but was pleased to be the top McLaren driver. He mentioned, “I’m happy with today and the progress I’ve made both with the car and myself. Although I didn’t deliver my best lap, I felt the pace was there, and the car has been performing well. I’m feeling better than I have in previous races.”
Kimi Antonelli, an 18-year-old driver for Mercedes, secured an impressive third place, marking his best qualifying result yet in a Grand Prix. He finished only 0.002 seconds behind Norris, showcasing his potential by splitting the McLaren duo and finishing ahead of his teammate Oscar Piastri. Antonelli articulated his experience, saying, “This weekend has been promising so far. I had a bit of a struggle during qualifying and didn’t have as clean of a lap as I did during the sprint. However, my final lap was quite good. The competition is fierce, and every fraction of a second counts. I’m hopeful we can translate this pace into a solid performance in the race.”
This qualifying session positioned Antonelli on the second row alongside Piastri, who was 0.171 seconds slower than his teammate. Piastri’s performance was a bit underwhelming due to a lackluster second lap, narrowly edging out George Russell by just 0.01 seconds. Carlos Sainz continued his streak of outperforming his Williams teammate Alex Albon, with both drivers set to start sixth and seventh on the grid. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc struggled to find speed, finishing eighth and expressing to his team that he had extracted all possible performance from the car during Q2.
Esteban Ocon made a notable appearance in Q3 for the first time this season, qualifying ninth, while Yuki Tsunoda rounded out the top ten, albeit 0.739 seconds slower than his polesitting teammate. Isack Hadjar narrowly missed the cut for Q3, finishing 11th, just 0.02 seconds behind, while Lewis Hamilton faced a challenging session. A series of mistakes, including oversteering through Turn 1 and a lockup at the end of the straight, led to his elimination in 12th place, marking the first time this season he failed to reach Q3.
Gabriel Bortoleto qualified 13th, followed by Jack Doohan and Liam Lawson, who struggled with battery issues during the session. Nico Hulkenberg placed 16th, just ahead of Fernando Alonso. The latter’s car had to undergo urgent repairs following a crash in the sprint, which resulted in a complete rebuild. Alonso’s team revealed that his vehicle required a new gearbox, a right-front corner, a floor, a rear wing, and a front wing after a collision with Lawson that sent him spinning into the wall at Turn 12.
Pierre Gasly’s qualifying ended in disappointment as he was knocked out in 18th place, trailing Lance Stroll, who was part of Aston Martin’s first double Q1 exit of the season. Oliver Bearman finished 20th, repeating his previous day’s result.
Overall, the Miami Grand Prix qualifying session provided an exhilarating display of skill and competition, with Verstappen’s pole position showcasing the Red Bull Racing team’s capabilities, while McLaren and Mercedes drivers demonstrated their potential to challenge for top positions. The stage is set for an exciting race, as teams and drivers look to capitalize on their qualifying performances and make strategic moves on the track. The dynamics of tire management, race pace, and driver skill will all play crucial roles in determining the outcome of the Grand Prix.
