Max Verstappen delivered a commanding yet gritty performance to snatch pole position for the 2025 Miami Grand Prix, reaffirming his champion’s credentials in a tightly contested qualifying session. Despite a small moment of drama at Turn 1 on his final Q3 run, the reigning World Champion kept his foot in and still managed to post a 1m26.204s – enough to secure top spot by just 0.061s over a hard-charging Lando Norris.
What To Know?
- Verstappen back on top: A late lap, despite a Turn 1 error, earned the reigning champ pole for Sunday’s race.
- Rising stars shine: Antonelli took P3, building on his Sprint form, while Piastri and Norris stayed in the hunt.
- Hamilton shock exit: The seven-time champ was eliminated in Q2 and would start only 12th for Ferrari.
Verstappen had taken provisional pole earlier in Q3 by the slimmest of margins – just 0.003s ahead of Norris – setting up a nail-biting finale. But while the Dutchman wrestled his Red Bull after a wobble in Sector 1, Norris too came up short on his last attempt, later apologising over team radio for overcommitting on a kerb that may have cost him the top spot. The result still marked another front-row start for the McLaren driver, who remains locked in a tight title battle with team-mate Oscar Piastri in the 2025 season.
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Continuing his breakout weekend, Kimi Antonelli impressed yet again, following up his Sprint Qualifying pole by securing third on the Grand Prix grid – his best Saturday performance to date. The teenage Mercedes rookie looked composed and confident throughout Q3, underlining that his earlier headline-grabbing moment wasn’t just a flash in the pan. Piastri slotted into fourth, unable to hook up a final lap good enough to challenge his team-mate, while George Russell took fifth in the second Mercedes after a consistent if unspectacular session.
The Williams pair were once again punching above their weight, with Carlos Sainz leading Alex Albon in sixth and seventh respectively. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc bounced back from his early Sprint crash to put in a solid, if cautious, run to eighth, while Esteban Ocon celebrated his first Q3 appearance of the year – and his first with Haas – by placing ninth. Red Bull’s second car, piloted by Yuki Tsunoda, rounded out the top 10 after a clean session.
One of the major surprises of the day came in Q2, where Lewis Hamilton failed to progress to the final segment. The Ferrari driver could not improve on his best lap and ended up a frustrated 12th, behind Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar, who once again impressed in 11th. Also knocked out in Q2 were Kick Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto – still celebrating his best F1 qualifying yet in 13th – Alpine’s Jack Doohan in 14th, and Liam Lawson in 15th for Racing Bulls.
The drivers eliminated in Q1 included Nico Hülkenberg, who missed the Q2 cut by less than a tenth and settled for 16th. Fernando Alonso’s difficult day continued following his Sprint crash, as the Aston Martin veteran could only manage 17th. Pierre Gasly was outqualified by Alpine team-mate Doohan for the first time this season and ended up 18th, while Lance Stroll and Ollie Bearman filled out the back row for Aston Martin and Haas respectively.
With Verstappen back on pole and the front three rows filled with title contenders, rising stars, and midfield surprises, the stage was perfectly set for a thrilling Sunday showdown in what has already been an electrifying 2025 season.
2025 Miami GP Qualifying Results
2025 Miami Grand Prix Qualifying, 3 May 2025
| Pos | No | Driver | Car | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:26.870 | 1:26.643 | 1:26.204 | 18 |
| 2 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 1:26.955 | 1:26.499 | 1:26.269 | 21 |
| 3 | 12 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:27.077 | 1:26.606 | 1:26.271 | 20 |
| 4 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 1:27.006 | 1:26.269 | 1:26.375 | 16 |
| 5 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:27.014 | 1:26.575 | 1:26.385 | 20 |
| 6 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Williams Mercedes | 1:27.098 | 1:26.847 | 1:26.569 | 20 |
| 7 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | 1:27.042 | 1:26.855 | 1:26.682 | 20 |
| 8 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:27.417 | 1:26.948 | 1:26.754 | 20 |
| 9 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Haas Ferrari | 1:27.450 | 1:26.967 | 1:26.824 | 21 |
| 10 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:27.298 | 1:26.959 | 1:26.943 | 21 |
| 11 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:27.301 | 1:26.987 | 13 | |
| 12 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:27.279 | 1:27.006 | 15 | |
| 13 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:27.343 | 1:27.151 | 15 | |
| 14 | 7 | Jack Doohan | Alpine Renault | 1:27.422 | 1:27.186 | 15 | |
| 15 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:27.444 | 1:27.363 | 14 | |
| 16 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:27.473 | 9 | ||
| 17 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:27.604 | 9 | ||
| 18 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | 1:27.710 | 9 | ||
| 19 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:27.830 | 9 | ||
| 20 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari | 1:27.999 | 9 |
2025 Miami Grand Prix Starting Grid
The Grand Prix starting grid, with or without penalties, after the 2025 Miami Grand Prix Qualifying session.
| Pos | No | Driver | Car | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:26.204 |
| 2 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 1:26.269 |
| 3 | 12 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:26.271 |
| 4 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 1:26.375 |
| 5 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:26.385 |
| 6 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Williams Mercedes | 1:26.569 |
| 7 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | 1:26.682 |
| 8 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:26.754 |
| 9 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Haas Ferrari | 1:26.824 |
| 10 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:26.943 |
| 11 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:26.987 |
| 12 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:27.006 |
| 13 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:27.151 |
| 14 | 7 | Jack Doohan | Alpine Renault | 1:27.186 |
| 15 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:27.363 |
| 16 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:27.473 |
| 17 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:27.604 |
| 18 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:27.830 |
| 19 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari | 1:27.999 |
| 20 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | 1:27.710 |
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