Miami, USA – May 4, 2025 — Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen claimed pole position for the 2025 Miami Grand Prix after an electrifying qualifying session at the Miami International Autodrome on Saturday.
Verstappen set the benchmark with a lap of 1:26.204, narrowly edging out McLaren’s Lando Norris by just 0.065 seconds. The result capped off a memorable week for the Dutchman, who also became a father with the birth of his daughter, Lily.
“It’s been a great qualifying,” Verstappen told reporters. “We improved the car a tiny bit which helped me rotate it better. It’s tricky out there with the tyres, but I’m happy to start on pole.”
Norris, who won the sprint race earlier in the day, was upbeat despite narrowly missing out.
“Congratulations to Max, especially on becoming a dad. I was hoping it might slow him down — clearly not! But it’s been a good weekend for us so far, and we’ve got a real shot in the race,” said the McLaren driver.
Mercedes’ 18-year-old rookie Kimi Antonelli continued his remarkable debut season by qualifying third. After securing pole position in Friday’s sprint qualifying, Antonelli followed it up with a strong showing that places him firmly among the top contenders for Sunday’s main event.
“This weekend has been going really well,” said Antonelli. “The sprint didn’t go to plan, but I’m happy to bounce back in qualifying. The gaps are so tight out there.”
Oscar Piastri, currently leading the championship, qualified fourth for McLaren after what he called “poor execution,” admitting he left time on the table during his flying lap. George Russell, Antonelli’s teammate at Mercedes, took fifth.
A surprise came from Williams, as both Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon secured sixth and seventh respectively, marking a strong step forward for the team. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc ended up eighth, while his teammate Lewis Hamilton failed to reach Q3, qualifying a disappointing 12th.
“It’s a bit of a mess at the moment, balance-wise,” said Hamilton. “We had an extra set of tyres but didn’t use them. We’re just not where we need to be.”
Leclerc shared his frustration:
“It’s just not good enough. I feel like I’m doing a good job, but finishing P6 or P7 doesn’t bring satisfaction. We need to turn things around quickly.”
Sunday’s race, which starts at 21:00 BST, promises to be a fierce battle. With Verstappen, Norris, and Antonelli on the front rows and Piastri looking to defend his championship lead, all eyes will be on Miami for what could be one of the most competitive races of the season.
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