Verstappen Takes Pole for 2025 Miami Grand Prix Amid Weekend Turmoil
After an eventful Saturday filled with sprint race chaos, post-race penalties, and standout performances, the starting grid for the 2025 Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix has officially been confirmed. The race, held at the lively Miami International Autodrome, is set for a thrilling showdown, with Max Verstappen securing pole position following a commanding qualifying effort.
Verstappen Recovers Strongly to Claim Pole
Despite being handed a 10-second time penalty earlier in the day during the sprint session—for an unsafe release that nearly caused contact with Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli—Verstappen rebounded in style. The reigning World Champion put in a near-flawless lap of 1:26.204 in qualifying, just enough to edge out McLaren’s Lando Norris by a mere 0.065 seconds.
Norris, who had dominated the sprint race alongside teammate Oscar Piastri in a McLaren 1-2, showcased strong pace yet again. However, Verstappen managed to dig deep in the Red Bull RB21 to snatch pole, reaffirming his status as the driver to beat.
Antonelli Impresses in Rookie Season
Kimi Antonelli delivered one of the standout performances of the weekend. The 18-year-old Mercedes rookie continues to make waves in his debut season, qualifying an impressive third and outperforming both his more experienced teammate George Russell and McLaren’s Piastri. Antonelli’s rapid adaptation to F1 machinery and calm under pressure have made him one of the season’s brightest surprises so far.
Oscar Piastri lines up in fourth, while Russell completes the top five after a solid but slightly underwhelming session compared to his rookie teammate.
Williams’ Strong Performance Continues
The 2025 season has seen a resurgence from Williams, and Miami further cemented their progress. Carlos Sainz, in his first season with the team, qualified sixth with a competitive lap just 0.365 seconds off the pole time. Teammate Alex Albon followed closely behind in seventh, reinforcing the team’s consistency and growing strength in the midfield battle.
Ferrari Falters Again
Ferrari’s struggles continued in Miami. Charles Leclerc managed to qualify eighth but battled with grip issues, particularly in the final sector. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton faced another disappointing session, failing to progress beyond Q2. He will start 12th on the grid, having been hampered by tricky track conditions and traffic during his flying lap.
The team has shown flashes of performance throughout the season, but reliability and consistency remain significant concerns.
Midfield Movers and Q2 Dropouts
Haas’ Esteban Ocon delivered a solid qualifying to secure ninth place, giving the American team hope for a good result at their home Grand Prix. Yuki Tsunoda, now Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull, rounded out the top 10 after a clean and composed session.
Just outside the top 10, Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar continues to show promise in his first full season, qualifying 11th. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) and Jack Doohan (Alpine) qualified 13th and 14th, respectively, while Liam Lawson will start 15th after a frustrating Q2 exit.
Surprises in the Bottom Five
Some big names found themselves on the back foot. Nico Hulkenberg, Fernando Alonso, Pierre Gasly, Lance Stroll, and Ollie Bearman all failed to make it out of Q1. Alonso and Aston Martin were off the pace all session, while Bearman struggled to deliver a clean lap despite earlier speed in practice.
Penalties and Grid Status
All penalties from the sprint and qualifying have been accounted for, with Verstappen’s 10-second sprint penalty having no impact on his qualifying result. No grid drops were issued post-qualifying, so the final grid reflects pure on-track performance.
Provisional 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)
