Lewis Hamilton had a tough day at the Miami Grand Prix qualifiers, with Turn 17 twice proving his undoing and Max Verstappen’s stunning performance overshadowing the field.
The Miami Grand Prix qualifiers unfolded in dramatic fashion as drivers were greeted by a dry track, despite the earlier threat of showers. A long queue of eager cars marked the start, with Gabriel Bortoleto putting Sauber on the map with an early 1:28.674 on Pirelli softs. However, the pace quickly escalated as Max Verstappen improved upon this time significantly, determined to shake off the memories of a frustrating sprint where, for the first time since 2016, he finished outside the points.
Verstappen, showcasing his impressive speed, returned to the front with a 1:26.870 during Q1, while others like Oliver Bearman and Lance Stroll struggled to avoid elimination. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton wrestled with his own challenges at Turn 17, which forced him to dip into his reserve of soft tires, just to chase a spot in the next qualifying session. The final Q1 results saw Verstappen in the lead, followed closely by Lando Norris, who had a brush with the wall yet secured P2, while the likes of Bearman and Stroll bowed out.
As Q2 began, Oscar Piastri took the early lead with a 1:26.269, positioning McLaren at the forefront. Kimi Antonelli, who was not too far behind, kept Mercedes in the hunt for a pole position, though George Russell reported a troubling lack of grip in his Mercedes W16. Despite these obstacles, Russell managed to advance, unlike Hamilton, who along with others like Hadjar and Doohan, saw their qualifying efforts end early due to continued issues at Turn 17.
Q3 brought a fresh wave of anticipation. With Verstappen, Norris, and Piastri separated by just 0.017 seconds, the tension was palpable. Verstappen’s first sector was remarkable, setting the stage with a purple time despite some instability in Turn 1. By the session’s close, it was Verstappen who stood firm at the top, nudging Norris into second place after the latter’s missteps at Turn 17. Kimi Antonelli rounded out the top three, having muscled his way past Piastri, who ended up in fourth.
Max Verstappen’s pole position in Miami is a testament to his formidable driving skills, shrugging off previous setbacks. As the starting lineup solidifies, drivers like Lewis Hamilton have their work cut out for them in the race, particularly with the challenges at Turn 17 still looming large.
