Miami Grand Prix – Qualifying: Max Verstappen takes his third pole position of the year

After this morning’s rain, the sun returned for the Miami Grand Prix qualifying. Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz, and Fernando Alonso were able to line up at the start of the session after the damage experienced during the Sprint race.

During his first attempt, Lewis Hamilton experienced a major lock-up at the end of the straight, which pushed him back to 15th position. However, his last attempt was sufficient to move him up in the hierarchy. Similarly, Yuki Tsunoda was once again under threat but managed to climb to ninth position. The Japanese driver thus avoided facing the same fate as during the Sprint qualifications.

In difficulties yesterday, Jack Doohan responded well and managed to set the thirteenth fastest time, while Pierre Gasly did no better than 17th. Similarly, at Sauber, Gabriel Bortoleto ranked eleventh, while Nico Hülkenberg was the first to be knocked out due to going a bit too wide at turn 19. Although Esteban Ocon managed to save himself with the fifteenth fastest time by just 23 thousandths of a second, Oliver Bearman finished last.

The Q1 eliminations are: Hülkenberg, Alonso, Gasly, Stroll, and Bearman.

During Q2, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton decided to go out on a set of used softs. This put the Mercedes driver in the danger zone, with the eleventh-fastest time while Kimi Antonelli continued his positive momentum from yesterday with the third-fastest time, behind the two untouchable McLarens. But during the second attempt, he was able to do better than his teammate.

On the other hand, Lewis Hamilton was unable to improve, which relegated him to twelfth place. It’s the first time since joining Ferrari that he hasn’t managed to qualify for Q3, but the overall performance of the red and blue cars seems to be lagging as Charles Leclerc complained he couldn’t do better than eighth. In contrast, Esteban Ocon managed to secure tenth place, marking his first Q3 with his new team. He edged out his compatriot Isack Hadjar by just two hundredths of a second.

As for Liam Lawson, he faced an issue with his battery and therefore finished fifteenth.

The eliminated from Q2 are: Hadjar, Hamilton, Bortoleto, Doohan, and Lawson.

During the first run in the final part of the session, it was Max Verstappen who managed to be the fastest, only three thousandths ahead of Lando Norris (with a lock-up at turn 17) and 17 thousandths ahead of Oscar Piastri (who took off at the chicane of turn 15)! Charles Leclerc went straight to the end of the straight and decided to stop his lap.

Max Verstappen was able to do even better in his last lap, which proved sufficient to withstand the improvements of the two McLaren drivers.

From our special correspondent in Miami