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Red Bull and Mercedes Handed Deleted Laps Verdict as FIA Confirms Miami GP Starting Grid
The FIA has officially confirmed the starting grid for Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix following a dramatic and controversy-laden qualifying session that saw key lap times deleted for both Red Bull and Mercedes drivers. After overnight deliberations, race stewards upheld track limit penalties that impacted several top contenders, setting the stage for an intense showdown in the fifth round of the Formula 1 World Championship.
Track Limits Drama Unfolds in Q3
Qualifying in Miami was always expected to be tight, with minimal margins separating the top teams. But the session turned chaotic in Q3 when multiple drivers exceeded track limits, resulting in several deleted lap times. The most high-profile incidents involved Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Mercedes’ George Russell — both of whom had their fastest laps removed for running wide at Turn 14, one of the most challenging corners on the circuit.
Verstappen’s deleted lap cost him provisional pole, though his earlier time remained sufficient to keep him on the front row. He will start second, alongside Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who delivered a stunning and clean lap that ultimately earned him pole position.
For Mercedes, the consequences were more severe. George Russell, who had briefly jumped to P3, saw his time wiped and dropped to P6 on the final classification. Teammate Lewis Hamilton also had a lap time investigated but escaped without penalty.
FIA Confirms Final Grid After Review
The FIA released a statement early Sunday morning, confirming that all deleted lap times would stand following video and telemetry reviews. The governing body reiterated its commitment to consistent enforcement of track limits, citing clear breaches in the reviewed incidents.
“The Race Stewards have confirmed that the deleted lap times for car #1 [Verstappen] and car #63 [Russell] were correctly applied, in line with Article 33.3 of the Sporting Regulations,” the statement read. “The final starting grid for the 2025 Miami Grand Prix has now been approved and published.”
Team Reactions: Frustration and Acceptance
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner acknowledged the setback but expressed confidence in Verstappen’s ability to recover: “It’s obviously disappointing to lose a lap, but that’s the nature of modern qualifying. Max is still on the front row, and we’re confident going into the race.”
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, while visibly frustrated with the outcome, took a more diplomatic tone: “We have to respect the rules, but it’s frustrating when margins are so tight. George had the pace for the top three, but we’ll have to make up ground tomorrow.”
Final Starting Grid Top 10 (Confirmed):
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
- Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
- George Russell (Mercedes)
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
- Nico Hülkenberg (Haas)
Looking Ahead to the Race
Sunday’s race promises fireworks as Ferrari aims to defend pole and Red Bull looks to reclaim dominance. With Mercedes eager to bounce back and McLaren continuing its strong form, the Miami GP could play a pivotal role in shaping the early title race.
Weather conditions are expected to be hot and dry, adding another layer of complexity to tire strategy and race management.
