Breaking: F1 2025 Miami GP starting grid with penalties appli…read more
Verstappen Secures Pole for 2025 Miami Grand Prix After Eventful Qualifying
The grid is officially set for the 2025 Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, and it’s Max Verstappen who will lead the pack after a thrilling Saturday at the Miami International Autodrome. The sixth round of the season delivered plenty of action, from a dramatic sprint race to intense qualifying battles, penalties, and standout performances up and down the order.
Verstappen Bounces Back for Pole
Max Verstappen once again showcased his resilience and talent by claiming pole position for Sunday’s main event, despite facing a setback earlier in the day. The reigning World Champion was handed a 10-second penalty in the sprint race for an unsafe release that nearly collided with Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli. However, the penalty did not carry over to his grid position for the Grand Prix, and Verstappen responded in dominant fashion during qualifying. Clocking in a lap of 1:26.204, he narrowly beat McLaren’s Lando Norris by just 0.065 seconds to secure pole.
Norris, who had earlier led a McLaren 1-2 finish in the sprint alongside teammate Oscar Piastri, again displayed impressive form. Although he missed out on pole, his qualifying run further affirmed McLaren’s strong pace heading into race day.
Antonelli Impresses for Mercedes
A major talking point was the performance of 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli. The Mercedes rookie stunned the field by qualifying third, outperforming more experienced drivers including teammate George Russell. Antonelli, still in his debut F1 season, has been making waves, and his strong pace in both the sprint and qualifying underlines his rapid progression.
Oscar Piastri starts fourth in the second McLaren, while George Russell will line up fifth after being outpaced by both Antonelli and Piastri.
Williams Surprises with Strong Qualifying
Williams continued their resurgence with a double top-10 result. Carlos Sainz, now racing for the historic British team, posted the sixth-fastest time, while Alex Albon secured seventh. Their impressive qualifying form confirms that the team’s 2025 car is performing well across different circuits, and both drivers will be eyeing solid points on Sunday.
Ferrari Faces More Frustration
Ferrari’s inconsistency remained evident in Miami. Charles Leclerc could do no better than eighth after struggling with grip in the final sector. Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, suffered from changing track conditions and traffic during his flying lap and failed to progress past Q2. He will start a disappointing 12th on the grid.
Midfield Highlights and Backmarker Struggles
Esteban Ocon gave Haas fans something to cheer about by qualifying ninth for the team’s home race. Yuki Tsunoda, now Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull, completed the top 10.
Promising rookie Isack Hadjar just missed out on Q3 in 11th, while Gabriel Bortoleto, Jack Doohan, and Liam Lawson will start from 13th to 15th. Among those eliminated in Q1 were veterans Nico Hulkenberg, Fernando Alonso, and Pierre Gasly, as well as Lance Stroll and rookie Ollie Bearman.
Penalties and Final Grid
The grid includes all penalties applied by the FIA. Verstappen’s time penalty in the sprint did not influence his race starting position, and no other grid penalties were issued post-qualifying.
With a closely packed top 10 and several competitive cars out of position, the 2025 Miami Grand Prix promises an exciting 57-lap battle under the Florida sun.
