MIAMI GP – Max Verstappen beats Lando Norris to pole by six and a half hundredths
Max Verstappen has beaten Lando Norris by six and a half hundredths to take pole position for the Miami Grand Prix, the Red Bull driver put himself fastest at the start of the final runs but the McLaren challenge appeared to disappear at the end of Q3. Verstappen appeared to open the door for the McLaren’s when he took too much kerb and lost time.
Verstappen repeated the strong performances he had in Suzuka and Jeddah to take his third pole of the season, which could suggest that Red Bull has started to understand the car and could start challenging for wins and poles going into the European season in two weeks.
Red Bull brought a floor upgrade for this weekend and Verstappen’s pole was won by an advantage through the sweeping opening sector, then McLaren was unable to recover enough time in the middle and final sector to claw back enough. After Norris ran a little bit wide at the final corner which sent him bouncing over the kerbs.
Many expected McLaren to be the favourites going into qualifying, but both looked to get it wrong at the end of Q3. That opened the door for Verstappen to put himself on pole despite his own mistake caused by oversteer which meant he didn’t improve in the first sector.
Reflecting on a “great qualifying” after making set-up improvements to his Red Bull after the Sprint, Verstappen said: “I had a tiny moment on my final lap into Turn One, so I lost a bit of time there. But around here it’s just very complicated with the tyres over a lap. But in the end, it worked out well, so I’m very happy to be on pole.
Norris said “Congrats to Max, especially being a dad now. I was hoping it would slow him down!! quipped Norris after the session. Max did a Max lap once again and I can’t fault him. I’m happy and excited for tomorrow.”
Fresh from his maiden pole in sprint qualifying Kimi Antonelli managed to split the two McLaren’s going two thousandths behind Norris and over a tenths faster than Oscar Piastri. Piastri managed to split the Mercedes, the Melbournian put his McLaren a hundredth faster than George Russell.
This has been a strong weekend for the Italian, he has managed to out-qualify Russell both for the sprint where he was on pole, and in Grand Prix qualifying was more than a tenth faster than the Englishman. It also made amends to some degree for a disappointing sprint result, where he lost the lead at the start and then was hit by Verstappen’s car in the pits and finished seventh.
Russell put his Mercedes ahead of both Williams, who appeared to unlock performance which hadn’t been seen all weekend, but flashes have been there at other races. Carlos Sainz was a tenth and three-quarters behind Russell as he went ahead of Alex Albon by just over a tenth.
Ferrari’s mixed season continues, Charles Leclerc was eighth going eight hundredths behind Albon, while a lock up for Hamilton on his final run in Q2 left him twelfth. Leclerc was four hundredths faster than the Englishman at the end of the middle part of qualifying. Both Ferrari’s were at risk but though Hamilton was only a tenth off it again highlights the fine margins across the field this season.
Esteban Ocon put his Haas ninth the Frenchman three-quarters of a tenth behind Leclerc as he went over a tenth ahead of Yuki Tsunoda, as they completed the top ten. Ocon getting through to Q3 for the first time this season.
Isack Hadjar was eleventh the Racing Bull missing out on Q3 by two hundredths as he put himself the same margin ahead of Hamilton. The Ferrari driver was unable to improve on his final attempt. Sauber had an encouraging session, Gabriel Bortoletto put himself thirteenth but over a tenth and a half behind the Ferrari.
The Brazilian having his strongest qualifying this season as he went three and a half hundredths ahead of Jack Doohan, the Alpine nearly two tenths faster than Liam Lawson.
Nico Hulkenberg was fastest of those knocked out in Q1, the Sauber driver missing out by just under a quarter of a tenth as he went three hundredths faster than Fernando Alonso. The Spaniard three hundredths ahead of Pierre Gasly, who managed to split the Aston Martins as he went over a tenth faster than Lance Stroll. Ollie Bearman completed the field, the Haas driver over a tenth and a half behind Stroll.
Related
- Miami GP – Sprint Result
- MIAMI GP – Lando Norris wins a chaotic sprint race ahead of McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri
- Miami GP – Sprint Qualifying Result
- MIAMI GP – Kimi Antonelli takes a maiden pole in sprint qualifying, half a tenth faster than both McLaren’s
- MIAMI GP – Oscar Piastri fastest from Charles Leclerc by three and a half tenths in practice
- Welcome to the Miami Grand Prix – 2025
- PRIXVIEW – Miami Grand Prix