In a standout qualifying performance at the Miami Grand Prix, Kimi Antonelli delivered a sensational lap to secure pole position, edging out Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc in a tightly contested session.
The result marks a major milestone for the young Italian, who continues to impress in his campaign with Mercedes, with his third consecutive pole of the season. The only other drivers to achieve this streak after their maiden pole being Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna.
Q1: Tight Margins and Early Pressure
The opening segment saw the usual rush to bank laps as track conditions improved rapidly around the Miami circuit. The driver to watch was Norris as he had converted a sprint pole to sprint victory earlier in the day.
With grip evolving quickly, several drivers found themselves under pressure late in the session, including Piastri, who scraped through to Q2 in P16. Small mistakes proved costly, with margins across the midfield incredibly tight as the track ramped up. Bortoleto also had to retire early due to his brakes catching fire.
Front-runners progressed without major issues, but the early signs were clear that this would be a session decided by fine margins.
Bortoleto only managed one run in the session. His Audi team got him out of the garage just in time to complete an out lap and make it to the line, until his session came to a dramatic close as his brakes caught fire.
Q2: Verstappen Dominates
In Q2, Mercedes began to assert themselves as serious contenders for pole, but Verstappen still had the control.
Antonelli showed strong pace, with the car looking particularly stable through Miami’s slower sections, while Ferrari stayed firmly in the mix.
Strategy also came into play, with some drivers opting to save fresh tyres for the final shootout, a decision that would prove crucial in Q3.
Q3: Antonelli Delivers Under Pressure
The final segment came down to a single decisive lap, and Antonelli delivered when it mattered most.
Hooking together a clean and confident run, he edged ahead of Verstappen, who had looked like the favourite heading into the final runs. Leclerc slotted into third, continuing Ferrari’s consistent qualifying form, while Norris had to settle at P4.
Behind the top four, Russell was unable to fully capitalise on Mercedes’ pace, while the rest of the field battled for position in an extremely competitive top 10.
With Verstappen lining up alongside Antonelli and Leclerc close behind, the Miami Grand Prix is set up for a compelling fight at the front.
Pole position offers a clear advantage, but with strategy, tyre management, and race pace all still to come into play, Sunday’s outcome remains far from certain.