Miami Grand Prix Qualifying: Verstappen Secures Pole
Miami, FL — Max Verstappen continued to demonstrate his dominance in the 2025 Formula 1 season by securing pole position for the Miami Grand Prix, clocking a time of 1:26.204, just 0.065 seconds ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris. This marks Verstappen’s 43rd career pole.
Verstappen set the pace in Q3 with an initial lap of 1:26.492, which narrowly edged out Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri. Norris, aiming for a late improvement, encountered a setback in the final corner, losing time after hitting the inside curb.
Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli showed commendable form, landing in third place, while George Russell clinched fifth. Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon from Williams impressed with strong performances, qualifying sixth and seventh respectively. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc rounded out the top eight, with Esteban Ocon of Haas and Yuki Tsunoda in the second Red Bull completing the top ten.
Hamilton’s Qualifying Struggles
Lewis Hamilton’s challenges continued in Miami as he finished 12th, just 0.039 seconds shy of a Q2 transfer. His second lap was notably slower than his first, missing the mark amid a competitive qualifying session. Meanwhile, rookie Gabriel Bortoleto achieved a respectable 13th on the grid for Sauber.
Nico Hulkenberg narrowly missed out on Q2 in 16th, with veteran Fernando Alonso in 17th, recovering from his earlier crash. Pierre Gasly took 18th, hindered by traffic on his final lap. Liam Lawson and Lance Stroll also faced disappointments, finishing 19th and 20th respectively.
Results Summary
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 1:26.204
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – +0.065
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – +0.385
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +0.435
- George Russell (Mercedes) – +0.633
- Carlos Sainz (Williams) – +0.794
- Alex Albon (Williams) – +0.920
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +1.235
- Esteban Ocon (Haas) – +1.400
- Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) – +1.500
The Miami Grand Prix promises to be a thrilling contest as teams prepare for tomorrow’s race, following a dramatic qualifying session filled with high stakes and tighter-than-ever margins.
