Antonelli Secures F1 Miami GP Pole in Tight Qualifying Battle
Kimi Antonelli claimed pole position for the F1 Miami GP with a strong lap that narrowly edged out Max Verstappen of Red Bull, who took second place. This marks Antonelli’s third consecutive pole, reinforcing Mercedes’ pace at the front despite significant upgrades from rival teams.
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton qualified third and sixth for Ferrari, while McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri secured fourth and seventh places. Antonelli’s Mercedes teammate George Russell qualified fifth, trailing Antonelli by four-tenths of a second.
Race Start Time Moved Earlier Due to Storm Risk
Following qualifying, the FIA, Formula 1, and the Miami Grand Prix promoter announced that the race start time has been moved up from 4pm to 1pm local time (6pm BST). This change was made in response to forecasts predicting heavy thunderstorms in the afternoon, which could disrupt the event.
The decision aims to minimize disruption and ensure the race can be completed under the safest and best possible conditions. The US national weather service advises stopping sporting events if thunder and lightning occur within six to ten miles, prompting contingency planning by race officials.
Qualifying Highlights and Team Developments
Antonelli leads the world championship by seven points over teammate Russell and has demonstrated strong qualifying performance despite Mercedes not introducing major upgrades for Miami. Rival teams Red Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren brought significant upgrades, which appeared to close the gap during the weekend.
Verstappen expressed satisfaction with Red Bull’s improvements, noting increased confidence and better car handling. McLaren drivers Norris and Piastri showed strong pace, with Norris initially setting the fastest time in Q3 before Antonelli’s final lap secured pole.
Antonelli’s final lap time was 1 minute 27.798 seconds, putting him just over a tenth of a second ahead of Verstappen. Russell was unable to match his teammate’s pace, finishing fifth in qualifying.