Miami Grand Prix Qualifying: Russell Surprises with Close Time to Verstappen
Miami, FL — George Russell of Mercedes expressed surprise at his performance during qualifying for the 2025 Miami Grand Prix, clocking in just two-tenths behind pole sitter Max Verstappen. Despite labeling the session his "worst quali" of the season, Russell secured fifth position, closely trailing McLaren’s Oscar Piastri by only 0.01 seconds.
Russell faced challenges in Q2, initially finding himself in the elimination zone after an unimpressive first lap on used tires. However, he advanced to Q3 with a more competitive second effort on new C5 tires. Reflections post-qualifying indicated a struggle with car feel throughout the weekend.
"I didn’t feel confident in myself and I knew I couldn’t drive to my potential," remarked Russell. He noted, “Qualifying has been a real strength of mine this season, but whatever’s been working did not work here in Miami.”
Russell identified difficulties in unlocking performance from the front tires, particularly in the vital middle sector, which hampered his flow. He speculated that increased tire pressures mandated by Pirelli worsened the situation, highlighting Mercedes’ vulnerability in maintaining tire temperature compared to rivals.
"Kimi [Antonelli] has been exceptionally fast," Russell praised his rookie teammate, acknowledging a stark contrast in performance. “Days like this, it’s sort of damage limitation – P5 was a good outcome all things considered.”
As the teams prepare for the race, Russell stated, "It’s so close out there on a single lap, but I expect that gap to extend tomorrow."
