Miami Grand Prix Qualifying: Antonelli Secures Third After Sprint Setback
In a dramatic turnaround, Andrea Kimi Antonelli clinched third place in qualifying for the Miami Grand Prix, demonstrating resilience following a disappointing performance in the sprint race earlier today. The Mercedes rookie had initially secured pole position for the sprint but faced a setback after a first-lap incident with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, ultimately finishing seventh with just two points.
During qualifying for the main event, Antonelli exhibited impressive speed, posting a lap time of 1m26.271s, narrowly missing second place by just two thousandths of a second behind Lando Norris. Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing took pole with a time of 1m26.204s.
"This weekend is going well so far," Antonelli remarked. "It was a bit disappointing this morning, but it was good to bounce back this way. I struggled a little bit during qualifying, but that last lap was quite good."
The close gaps in lap times underscored the competitive nature of the session, with Antonelli noting, "If you can gain just a few hundredths, you can make up so many places."
This qualifying result marks a notable achievement for Antonelli, who outqualified his teammate George Russell, who starts the race from fifth. The 2023 Miami Grand Prix promises an exciting showdown as the race unfolds tomorrow.
