Breaking:Verstappen Secures Pole in Miami as Hamilton and Ferrari Continue to… read more
Max Verstappen claimed pole position for the Miami Grand Prix with a commanding performance in qualifying, reinforcing his dominance at a circuit where he has already won twice in the past three years. The Dutch driver delivered a typically aggressive and confident lap, particularly excelling in the first sector to edge out the competition and secure the top spot on the grid.
Speaking after qualifying, Verstappen expressed satisfaction with the improvements made to his Red Bull car. “It’s been a great qualifying. We made some small changes to the setup and I was able to build up my performance through each session. I’m really happy to be on pole,” he said. Despite his strong showing, Verstappen remained cautious about Sunday’s race, citing uncertainties around the weather and lack of long-run data due to the sprint weekend format. “Race pace? I’m not sure. The cooler it is, the better it could be for us. But no one really knows yet – we haven’t done long runs,” he added.
Off the track, Verstappen also attracted attention after announcing the birth of his daughter, Lily, with partner Kelly Piquet. While some speculated about the possible impact of fatherhood on his racing form, Verstappen was quick to brush aside such concerns. “I don’t listen to that kind of talk. Many champions became fathers and kept performing at the top. I’ll keep doing what I do,” he said firmly.
Lando Norris, who had earlier claimed victory in the sprint race, narrowly missed out on pole, finishing second to Verstappen. Nevertheless, the McLaren driver was upbeat about his performance and his chances in the main race. “Max just did one of his laps again. I can’t complain. I’m happy with my progress – I haven’t nailed the perfect lap yet, but the speed is there. I’m ready for whatever conditions we get tomorrow,” Norris said.
A standout performance came from Mercedes’ rising star, Kimi Antonelli, who continued to impress in his debut Formula 1 season. The 18-year-old Italian qualified an impressive third, adding to his growing reputation after making history by becoming the youngest ever driver to take pole in a sprint race earlier in the weekend. “It’s going well overall. I didn’t get the cleanest lap today, but I’m still happy with P3,” Antonelli said.
Meanwhile, Ferrari endured a disappointing qualifying session. Charles Leclerc could only manage eighth place, while Lewis Hamilton, in his first season with the Italian team, failed to progress beyond Q2 and will start 12th. Both drivers voiced their frustration over the team’s
