Miami Grand Prix Qualifying: Antonelli Secures Third After Challenging Sprint
Miami, FL – Andrea Kimi Antonelli showcased resilience by rebounding from a disappointing performance in the Miami Grand Prix sprint to achieve a formidable third-place start in qualifying for the main race.
After securing pole position for the sprint, Antonelli faced challenges during the race, particularly following a first-lap clash with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, which led to a final placement of seventh. A series of post-race penalties further impacted the standings, limiting his points to two.
In qualifying for the main event, Antonelli delivered a strong performance with a best lap of 1m26.271s, positioning himself between McLaren drivers Lando Norris (second) and Piastri (fourth). The session was dominated by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who clinched pole with a time of 1m26.204s.
“This weekend is going well so far. It was a bit disappointing this morning, but it was good to bounce back this way,” Antonelli remarked. He admitted to a less-than-perfect qualifying run but remained optimistic: “The gaps are super tight, and definitely, if you can gain just a few hundredths, you can make up so many places.”
Notably, Antonelli outqualified teammate George Russell for the first time this season, as Russell will start from fifth.
As the Miami Grand Prix approaches, Antonelli aims to capitalize on his qualifying position and deliver a strong race performance.
