The stage is set for a thrilling Miami Grand Prix with Max Verstappen claiming pole position after narrowly beating McLaren’s Lando Norris by just 0.065 seconds in Saturday’s qualifying session. Norris, fresh off a sprint race win, will start alongside Verstappen on the front row, while rookie sensation Kimi Antonelli impressed again by qualifying third — just 0.002s behind Norris.
Oscar Piastri, a consistent front-runner this season, missed out on a top-three start for the first time, placing fourth. Meanwhile, it was a disappointing day for Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc qualifying ninth and Lewis Hamilton struggling to 12th, marking his first Q2 exit for the Scuderia.
Antonelli’s Rise Continues
18-year-old Antonelli continues to turn heads in his debut F1 season. After shocking the grid with a pole in Saturday’s sprint, he showed his composure again in qualifying. Though he missed sprint victory and finished seventh, his performance is establishing him as a future star.
Sprint Recap: Norris Triumphs, Hamilton on the Podium
Saturday’s sprint race was anything but predictable. Rain earlier in the day added chaos, with Leclerc crashing before the race even started. When racing resumed, Oscar Piastri led early on, but Norris capitalized late to take the win. Hamilton salvaged some pride with a third-place finish, while Antonelli dropped to seventh after initially holding the lead.
Mercedes Spotlight: ‘The Seat’ Netflix Documentary
Mercedes announced a new 45-minute Netflix documentary titled The Seat, chronicling Kimi Antonelli’s journey to replacing Lewis Hamilton at the Silver Arrows. The film promises exclusive insight into the private discussions between team boss Toto Wolff and the Italian prodigy.
Verstappen Rescues Weekend for Red Bull
Verstappen’s pole lap came after an inconsistent showing in practice and early qualifying sessions, but a strong final run gave Red Bull reason to celebrate. His teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, starts 10th.
US F1 Woes: Still No American on the Grid
Despite F1’s rapid growth in the United States — now hosting three races — the absence of a homegrown driver remains glaring. Logan Sargeant’s brief career ended last season after scoring just one point in 36 races, and the U.S. continues its search for a new F1 hero.
Mexico GP Extended to 2028
F1 also confirmed a three-year extension with the Mexican Grand Prix through 2028, despite Sergio Perez no longer being on the grid. The former Red Bull driver is now linked with a 2026 seat at the new Cadillac team entering the sport next year.
Starting Grid for Miami GP (Top 10):
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Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
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Lando Norris (McLaren)
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Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
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Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
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George Russell (Mercedes)
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Carlos Sainz (Williams)
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Alex Albon (Williams)
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Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
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Esteban Ocon (Haas)
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Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)
Race Day Info
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Race Start: Sunday, 4 May at 9pm BST
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TV: Sky Sports F1 (UK), ESPN (US)
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Streaming: Sky Go, NOWTV, or via VPN if abroad
Stay tuned for live coverage and post-race analysis as the 2025 Formula 1 season continues to unfold.