Antonelli delivers jaw-dropping lap in brilliant Miami GP pole position

The championship leader stole the spotlight in Q1 by clocking a 1:28.653 on fresh soft tyres, while Charles Leclerc impressed by going second just two tenths behind the Italian despite setting his lap on heavily used rubber. Max Verstappen finished third, with Lando Norris close behind in fourth. Lewis Hamilton ended the session seventh, still facing a significant gap to his team-mate.

Among the eliminated drivers were both Aston Martins, with Fernando Alonso ahead of Lance Stroll, and both Cadillacs, as Valtteri Bottas outpaced Sergio Perez. Gabriel Bortoleto also dropped out after encountering issues and finishing a long way off the pace, with the Brazilian later stopping on track at the end of the session as visible flames emerged from the rear brakes.

Verstappen took everyone by surprise in Q2 by going fastest with a 1:28.116 with softs, ahead of Antonelli and Leclerc, while Piastri finished fourth and Hamilton fifth. Russell continued to struggle in comparison to his team-mate and ended the session sixth.

Among the eliminated drivers were Nico Hulkenberg, Liam Lawson, Oliver Bearman, Carlos Sainz, Esteban Ocon and Alexander Albon, who secured only 16th on the grid. Both Alpines, meanwhile, pulled off an impressive result by reaching Q3, with Franco Colapinto finishing ahead of Pierre Gasly, the last driver to qualify.

At the end of the first runs in Q3, Antonelli moved into provisional pole after setting an impressive 1:27.798, putting nearly four tenths between himself and Leclerc and Verstappen. Russell could only manage fifth, also four tenths off the pace, while Hamilton went sixth and Piastri seventh.

Russell failed to improve on his second attempt and remained fifth, while neither Piastri nor Norris managed to find more time either. Both Ferraris also stayed on their previous laps. Verstappen was the only frontrunner to improve, moving onto the front row ahead of Leclerc. Antonelli lifted off on his final attempt but still secured pole position thanks to the lap he had set earlier.