Key events
Giles Richards’ report
That’s all for today. Thank you for reading and enjoy the race tomorrow …
“Outstanding,” says the Red Bull team principal, Christian Horner, of Verstappen’s hot lap and resulting pole. “He didn’t overdrive [after the early mistake] … he just kept finding more time.
“Like any great sportsman or woman, it’s those big pressure moments, when it’s down to the last set of tyres … he delivers.
“I think his ability to deliver under pressure: on balance, we are a tenth or two down on the McLaren [on overall speed]. He’s having to dig deep. When you get to Q3 that is where the pressure is … he steps up to the plate, and he’s done it again.
“His ability to focus and deliver is insane. It’s really truly impressive.”
The impressive rookie, Antonelli, has a chat: “This weekend is going well so far … I struggled a bit during the quali, I didn’t have such a clean run like yesterday … I was a bit too greedy in turn one but the rest of the lap was quite good.
“The gaps are super tight … it’s about putting everything together. Hopefully tomorrow we can have a good race.”
“I was hoping that being a father would slow Max down a bit, but it didn’t,” says Norris. “Happy with today. Max did a “Max” lap once again. Happy, and excited for tomorrow.
“It is what it is … I’m ready to see what we can do into turn one.
“I don’t mind if it’s dry or wet. Miami seems to be a bit surprising with the weather at the moment. I’m ready for both.”
“It’s been a great qualifying,” says Verstappen. “We improved the car a bit … we’ve improved every session … it worked out well, I’m very happy of course to be on pole.”
On losing the back end in turn one: “You can back out of it, but it’s qualifying: just floor it out of the corner.
“It’s the best starting position so that’s positive.”
Miami GP grid: top 10
1) Verstappen 1min 26.204sec
2) Norris +0.65
3) Antonelli +0.67
4) Piastri +01.71
5) Russell +0.181
6) Sainz +0.365
7) Albon +0.478
8) Leclerc +0.550
9) Ocon +0.620
10) Tsunoda +0.739
Miami GP pole for Verstappen!
There it is. The Red Bull man’s second consecutive pole in Miami, and his third for the season.
Norris second, Antonelli third.
Norris +0.291 … looking good for Verstappen.
Verstappen fastest in 1.26.204!
Verstappen loses the back end at the start of his flying lap! He’ll need to go some.
Two minutes to go!
The order right now:
Verstappen, Norris, Piastri, Antonelli, Albon, Russell, Sainz, Ocon, Tsunoda, Leclerc.
We’ve got 4min 30sec of Q3 to go!
This is the calm before the storm. The gloves will be off in the fight for pole in the next few minutes …
Verstappen comes in for a cheeky tyre change.
What’s cheeky about it? Honestly, no idea.
Verstappen: 1.26.492
Norris: +0.0003
Piastri: +0.0017
Provisional pole for Verstappen in 1.26.492.
Piastri was 17milliseconds slower … now Norris goes second, three milliseconds down!
Qualifying 3 begins
Yeeeee-ha!
Does anyone else struggle to differentiate between David Croft’s and Ted Kravitz’s voices? It’s a minefield.
“Antonelli pulled out a super clean lap yesterday,” says Brundle on commentary. “It wasn’t quickest in any sector but that’s enough these days because the margins are so tight. It feels like advantage Oscar Piastri.”
The drivers have been back to the pits for an egg sandwich a nice cup of tea. And we’re ready for Q3. LET’S DO THIS!
Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls on the radio to his team: “What the **** is going on with this battery?”
I think that’s what he said, anyway.
“We had a problem,” comes the sheepish reply from someone on the team.
Piastri, Norris, Russell, Antonelli, Verstappen the top five in Q2. Lock and load.
Lawson, Doohan, Bortoleto, Hamilton and Hadjar are all eliminated in Q2.
Hamilton eliminated in Q2
Ferrari’s seven-time world champion is out. Looked like he had another lock-up at one point.
“That has hurt Lewis Hamilton badly indeed,” says Brundle.
Hamilton is again languishing in the bottom five. He’s 11th at the moment.
“That could be it for Lewis Hamilton,” says David Croft.
Piastri, Norris, Antonelli the top three.
Piastri, just a reminder, is fastest with a time of 1.26.269.
Fans in the stands are nothing if not consistent in their reactions to being on camera. They all frantically wave, smile and go: “Whoooooo!”
Under five minutes to go and all the cars have come back into the pits before the serious action in Q2 begins.
George Russell on the radio tells his Mercedes team he’s got no grip and is “sliding everywhere”.
Five more drivers will drop out in Q2.
Norris is second, +0.230, Antonelli third, +0.337.
“I’m almost speechless with that lap from Piastri,” says Kravitz on Sky. “That is so quick.”
Piastri quickest early doors: 1.26.269.
Qualifying 2 begins
Allez!
“Tomorrow looks another rainy day,” says the McLaren chief Zak Brown. “But we’ll worry about tomorrow, tonight.”
Alex Albon is in hot water for the lowest-speed F1 incident ever. He nudged in front of Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) in the pit lane as the cars were waiting to head out to start the session.
Verstappen kept the fastest time after Q1: 1.26.870.
Norris second (+0.085), Piastri third (+0.136), Russell fourth.
Hamilton’s teammate, Leclerc, down in 12th.
Bearman, Stroll, Gasly, Alonso and Hulkenberg are out. That’s ascending order from No 20.
Eighth-fastest for Hamilton! Panic over.
Ouch, Ferrari’s Hamilton is now in the bottom five! And he remains so on the graphic as the clock goes red.
