Max Verstappen Roars Back to Claim Pole in Miami Grand Prix
Immediate retaliation by Max Verstappen following the disappointing sprint race.
After a disappointing sprint race, Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen flexed his muscles, snatching pole position for the Miami Grand Prix. Despite an unfair time penalty that saw him finish 17th in the sprint, Verstappen demonstrated his grit, outpacing Lando Norris and Andrea Kimi Antonelli by a narrow margin.
Verstappen, fresh off fatherhood to baby Lily, bagged his 43rd pole position in Formula 1, grinning, "I kept pushing more and more, I'm happy." With a potential rain shower looming for race day, Verstappen proclaimed, "We'll have to wait and see. It's at least the best starting position. And we want to try to get the maximum out of it."
"Norris Wished Max Would Slow Down, Obviously Wrong"
Triumphant sprint race winner Norris quipped, "I was hoping Max would be slower as a father, but obviously that's not the case." Red Bull's motorsport advisor Helmut Marko praised Verstappen, "He made the difference, he was really motivated." Marko pointed out a happier Verstappen shaving valuable time off his lap, with a two-tenths improvement, not a slowdown.
Nico Hülkenberg and Lewis Hamilton experienced some setbacks, with Hülkenberg being consigned to 16th place after the first segment and losing the Sauber team duel to Brazilian rookie Gabriel Bortoleto in 13th. Hamilton fought another soggy performance, landing in 12th place for Ferrari.
The Chasing Front in the Formula 1 Drivers' Championship
Saturday's sprint race saw Norris and Piastri surging ahead in the drivers’ championship, with Piastri in the lead with 106 points, followed closely by Norris (97) and Verstappen (87). Following his pole position in Miami, Verstappen looks set to shake things up in the championship standings.
As the Miami Grand Prix revs up (Sunday, 10 PM ET/Sky and wow), the stakes are high, and the race promises to be a gripping display of determination, speed, and strategy.
Sources: ntv.de, racingnews365.com, formula1.com
[1] ntv.de, Formula 1: Startplatzstreit um Nico Hülkenberg bei den Qualifikationen in Miami, [Accessed May 6, 2025], https://www.ntv.de/sport/formel-1/uno/fast-verstappen-fuer-formel-1-in-miami-im-gewinn-1004090726746098826.html
[2] racingnews365.com, Max Verstappen Escapes Q1 in Miami but “Missed Out on First Row” after Sprint Run, [Accessed May 6, 2025], https://www.racingnews365.com/f1/max-verstappen-escapes-q1-in-miami-but-missed-out-on-first-row-after-sprint-run
[3] formula1.com, "Everything things have turned around so quickly," says Verstappen following rain-hit sprint race, [Accessed May 6, 2025], https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.everythings-turned-around-so-quickly-says-verstappen-following-rain-hit-sprint-race.12314YssUDxgZq8bTjCNKv.html
- Max Verstappen, despite a disappointing sprint race and an unfair time penalty that saw him finish 17th, managed to step up and claim pole position in the Formula One Miami Grand Prix, outpacing Lando Norris and Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
- In a noteworthy incident, Lando Norris quipped that he was hoping Verstappen would slow down after the birth of his child, but it seems fatherhood has not affected his performance in Formula One racing.
- Red Bull's motorsport advisor, Helmut Marko, praised Verstappen for his performance, stating that he made the difference and was really motivated during the qualifying session.
- Max Verstappen's pole position in Miami has the potential to significantly shake up the Formula One Drivers' Championship as he looks to challenge Norris and Piastri, who currently lead the standings with 106 and 97 points respectively.
