Red Bull’s Max Verstappen secured pole position for the sprint race at the Miami Grand Prix, edging out Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in a closely contested qualifying session.
Verstappen’s lap, 0.108 seconds quicker than Leclerc, positioned him at the front of the grid, with Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez closely following in third place, and Daniel Ricciardo of McLaren surprisingly clinching fourth.
Despite McLaren’s strong showing in practice, Lando Norris failed to capitalize on his pace, encountering difficulties in the first sector of his final lap, ultimately finishing outside the top positions.
Mercedes endured a challenging qualifying session, with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton managing only 11th and 12th places respectively. Hamilton’s session was marred by a light brush with the wall on his final run, highlighting the team’s struggles with pace.
Reflecting on his pole position, Verstappen expressed surprise at the result, citing difficulties in getting the tires to work optimally. However, he capitalized on the opportunity, acknowledging the team’s effort in securing the top spot.
Leclerc’s performance was commendable, especially considering his limited track time following a spin in practice. The Ferrari driver’s resilience paid off, positioning him alongside Verstappen on the front row.
Despite the challenges, Mercedes remains optimistic about finding improvements ahead of the main qualifying session. Both Russell and Hamilton highlighted the need to address the car’s pace deficit, emphasizing the team’s commitment to overcoming their qualifying woes.