Verstappen beats Norris and Antonelli to blistering Miami GP pole

Reigning F1 world champion Max Verstappen fended off a strong challenge from McLaren’s Lando Norris to lead the field for Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix, marking the Dutchman’s 43rd career pole in a tense qualifying session.

Verstappen’s best lap of 1m26.204s came late in Q3, just enough to edge out Norris by 0.065s after the Briton clipped the inside kerb at the final corner, likely costing him his maiden pole of the season.

The Red Bull charger had earlier set the pace with a 1m26.492s, but found enough improvement on his final run to retain top spot despite stiff McLaren opposition.

• Miami Grand Prix - Qualifying results

Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli continued his impressive run of form in Miami by clinching third on the grid, holding off Oscar Piastri by a narrow margin in what is shaping up to be a breakthrough weekend for the 18-year-old Italian.

Mixed Fortunes Behind the Front Rows

George Russell secured fifth in the second Mercedes, while Williams delivered a standout performance with both drivers in Q3 — Carlos Sainz qualifying sixth and Alex Albon seventh.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc had a quiet session and could only manage eighth, while Esteban Ocon put Haas in the top 10 in ninth, narrowly ahead of Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull.

McLaren looked dominant in Q2, with Piastri leading the way from Norris by two-tenths. Russell, struggling for grip early in the session, was briefly at risk of elimination but rebounded on fresh tyres to comfortably progress.

It was a different story for Lewis Hamilton. The Ferrari driver failed to improve on his initial effort in the second session and was eliminated in 12th, just 0.039s shy of the cut.

Just ahead of him was Red Bull reserve Isack Hadjar in 11th, who also missed out by the slimmest of margins.

Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto impressed in 13th, followed by Alpine’s Jack Doohan and Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson, whose battery issues hampered his final push.

Rain Washes Out Grip, Drama Ensues in Q1

A rain-affected track earlier in the day left the surface green for Q1, resulting in frantic action as drivers scrambled to adapt to rapidly improving conditions. Track evolution was significant, and with margins tight, Verstappen was the only driver who could afford to sit out the final laps after setting the benchmark early.

Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg missed the cut in 16th, while Fernando Alonso struggled to make an impact on his repaired Aston Martin and was knocked out in 17th. Pierre Gasly blamed traffic for his 18th-place exit, as Lance Stroll and Oliver Bearman rounded out the field.

The grid is set for a high-stakes showdown in Miami, with Verstappen once again the man to beat — but McLaren are clearly within striking distance.

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