Verstappen on Pole for 2025 Miami Grand Prix as Grid Finalized After Penalties
After a dramatic and action-packed Saturday at the Miami International Autodrome, the starting grid for the sixth round of the 2025 Formula 1 season has been set. The Miami Grand Prix promises high-octane drama with a fiercely competitive lineup, especially following a weekend that saw sprint race upsets, time penalties, and surprise qualifying performances.
Verstappen Fights Back for Pole
Despite facing adversity during the sprint race earlier in the day, Max Verstappen responded in the best possible way by clinching pole position for Sunday’s main race. The reigning World Champion bounced back from a 10-second time penalty he received in the sprint—issued for an unsafe release into the path of Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli—to deliver a commanding performance during qualifying. Verstappen’s pole time of 1:26.204 was just enough to edge out McLaren’s Lando Norris by a razor-thin margin of 0.065 seconds.
Norris, who had topped the sprint alongside teammate Oscar Piastri in a 1-2 finish for McLaren, once again proved his pace with a strong run in qualifying. However, Verstappen’s determination and ability to extract the most from his Red Bull RB21 shone through as he denied the British driver a shot at his second career pole.
Antonelli Shines in Mercedes
One of the standout performances of the day came from young Italian Kimi Antonelli. The Mercedes driver, still in his debut season in Formula 1, impressed fans and analysts alike by qualifying third. Antonelli managed to split the two McLarens, beating the more experienced Oscar Piastri and even his own teammate George Russell in both the sprint and the qualifying session.
Piastri, who was one of the strongest drivers in the sprint race, will line up fourth, followed by Russell in fifth. The intra-team battle at Mercedes has clearly begun to heat up, with Antonelli’s Miami performance likely to add fuel to the fire.
Williams Makes a Statement
In an encouraging display for the revitalized Williams team, both Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon managed to secure spots in the top 10. Sainz, continuing to show his veteran savvy since joining the team, qualified sixth with a solid lap just 0.365 seconds off pole. His teammate Albon, showing consistency and confidence, will start seventh.
This strong showing for Williams suggests the team’s 2025 package is competitive across a range of tracks, and both drivers will be aiming to convert their starting positions into valuable championship points.
Ferrari Struggles Again
Ferrari had a difficult day in Miami. Charles Leclerc could only manage eighth, while Lewis Hamilton failed to make it out of Q2 and will start from 12th. The team has shown glimpses of competitiveness this season, but inconsistency remains an issue. Leclerc struggled with grip in the final sector, while Hamilton was caught out by changing track conditions and traffic during his flying lap.
Midfield and Backmarkers
Esteban Ocon put in a strong lap for Haas and secured ninth on the grid, giving the American-owned team some hope for their home race. Yuki Tsunoda, now driving alongside Verstappen at Red Bull, rounded out the top 10.
Just outside the top 10, Isack Hadjar in the Racing Bulls missed out on Q3 but continues to show promise in his first full F1 season. Alongside him, Gabriel Bortoleto in the Sauber and Jack Doohan in the Alpine also fell in Q2, lining up in 13th and 14th respectively. Liam Lawson, who has been working hard to extract pace from the Racing Bulls car, starts 15th.
The bottom five includes several big names and surprises. Nico Hulkenberg, Fernando Alonso, Pierre Gasly, Lance Stroll, and rookie Ollie Bearman all failed to escape Q1. Alonso’s Aston Martin lacked pace, and Bearman, despite flashes of speed earlier in the weekend, couldn’t put together a clean lap in qualifying.
Penalties Applied
The grid reflects all penalties as applied by the FIA following the sprint and qualifying sessions. The major change was Verstappen’s 10-second penalty in the sprint, which didn’t affect his qualifying time or starting position for the race. No grid drops were issued following qualifying, so the lineup remains largely intact based on performance alone.
Provisional Starting Grid – 2025 Miami Grand Prix
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2. Lando Norris (McLaren)
3. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
4. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
5. George Russell (Mercedes)
6. Carlos Sainz (Williams)
7. Alex Albon (Williams)
8. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
9. Esteban Ocon (Haas)
10. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)
11. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)
12. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
13. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)
14. Jack Doohan (Alpine)
15. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
16. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)
17. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
18. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
19. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
20. Ollie Bearman (Haas)
The race is set to begin Sunday with Verstappen leading the field under the Miami sunshine. With close gaps throughout the top 10 and several drivers out of position, fans can expect plenty of overtaking and strategic drama across the 57 laps.
