Red Bull’s Max Verstappen delivered another outstanding lap in Q3 to claim the pole position at the Miami Grand Prix, showcasing his exceptional driving skills. Lando Norris secured the second spot on the grid, while title leader Oscar Piastri found himself in a disappointing fourth place after a slower run than he had earlier in qualifying.
Verstappen’s rise to the top was particularly impressive given that he had just faced a pointless Sprint race the previous day, where he was heavily penalized for a collision with Kimi Antonelli owing to a pit-stop error from his team. This comeback from adversity echoed his previous performances in Q3, especially from his heroic laps at Suzuka and Jeddah earlier in the season, demonstrating his ability to bounce back under pressure.
In contrast, Norris’s performance was marked by a critical error on his final lap at Turn 17, when his McLaren became unsettled over the kerb. This mistake likely cost him valuable time, as he finished just 0.065 seconds behind Verstappen. Despite this setback, the young British driver outperformed his championship-leading teammate Oscar Piastri. Piastri, who had initially shown promise, was unable to maintain his pace and dropped to fourth as he couldn’t match the blistering speeds he set in Q2.
Antonelli, who garnered attention for his earlier pole position in the Sprint, continued to impress by finishing third, just 0.002 seconds behind Norris and 0.067 seconds from Verstappen’s stunning lap. This marked a significant achievement for the Italian teenager, as he outqualified his more experienced teammate George Russell for the first time across both qualifying formats. Russell’s performance fell short of expectations, landing him in fifth place after clocking a time a tenth slower than Antonelli.
On the other hand, Ferrari faced yet another disappointing qualifying session. After a promising showing in the Sprint, where Lewis Hamilton finished in the top three, the team’s fortunes changed dramatically. Hamilton’s single-lap struggles led him to a disheartening 12th place, marking the first Q2 exit in his career with Ferrari. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc managed to reach Q3 but could only achieve the eighth-fastest time, which contrasted sharply with Ferrari’s usual performance against their competitors.
The qualifying results were not favorable for Ferrari, as they found themselves outqualified not only by Red Bull and McLaren but also by Williams, who delivered an impressive performance with Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon finishing in sixth and seventh places, respectively. Esteban Ocon’s session was noteworthy as he pushed Haas into the top 10 with a commendable ninth-fastest time, ahead of Yuki Tsunoda, who rounded out the top 10 in the second Red Bull but was notably slower than Verstappen.
Amidst the drizzle that marred the earlier Sprint, Verstappen demonstrated his competitive edge throughout the qualifying sessions. He set the pace early in Q1 and despite only managing the fifth-fastest lap in Q2—0.374 seconds behind Piastri—he regained his form in Q3. His final effort showcased a remarkable improvement of 0.288 seconds, clocking a lap time of 1:26.204 that neither Norris nor Piastri could replicate.
Post-session, Norris lightheartedly congratulated Verstappen, playfully remarking about his new fatherhood status, hoping it would slow him down. Verstappen himself acknowledged the challenging nature of the Miami circuit, particularly regarding tire management over a single lap. He expressed happiness over securing pole position and reflected on the minor moments of oversteer he experienced, underscoring how competitive and tricky qualifying can be.
In sum, the buildup to the Miami Grand Prix featured thrilling narratives of resilience, competition, and the constant push for excellence, setting the stage for an exciting race ahead.
Miami GP Qualifying Timesheet
| Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1) Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:26.204 |
| 2) Lando Norris | McLaren | +0.065 |
| 3) Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | +0.067 |
| 4) Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +0.171 |
| 5) George Russell | Mercedes | +0.181 |
| 6) Carlos Sainz | Williams | +0.365 |
| 7) Alex Albon | Williams | +0.478 |
| 8) Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +0.550 |
| 9) Esteban Ocon | Haas | +0.620 |
| 10) Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull | +0.739 |
| Knocked out in Q2 | ||
| 11) Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls | 1:26.987 |
| 12) Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:27.006 |
| 13) Gabriel Bortoleto | Sauber | 1:27.151 |
| 14) Jack Doohan | Alpine | 1:27.186 |
| 15) Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 1:27.363 |
| Knocked out in Q1 | ||
| 16) Nico Hulkenberg | Sauber | 1:27.473 |
| 17) Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:27.604 |
| 18) Pierre Gasly | Williams | 1:27.710 |
| 19) Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:27.830 |
| 20) Oliver Bearman | Haas | 1:27.999 |
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