Max Verstappen continued his dominant start to the 2024 season by snatching pole position for the Miami Grand Prix sprint race, edging out a resurgent Charles Leclerc in a thrilling qualifying session.
The Red Bull driver, who currently leads the championship standings, wasn’t entirely comfortable with his car’s handling throughout qualifying. However, a late flying lap in Q3, clocking in at 1:27.641 seconds, proved enough to secure the top spot.
“It felt terrible,” admitted Verstappen after the session. “Maybe that last session was just incredibly difficult to get the tires to work. But hey, we’re on pole, and that’s what matters.”
Leclerc, who missed most of Friday’s practice due to a spin and clutch issues, put in a valiant effort to recover lost ground. The Ferrari driver showcased impressive pace, finishing just 0.108 seconds behind Verstappen. This result will be a welcome boost for the Scuderia after a challenging start to the Miami weekend.
The battle for third on the grid became an internal Red Bull affair. Sergio Perez, Verstappen’s teammate, managed to secure P3, albeit 0.235 seconds adrift of his championship leader. Despite a strong showing throughout qualifying, a slight edge went to Verstappen on this occasion.
The biggest surprise of the session came from Daniel Ricciardo in the McLaren. The Australian driver, who has struggled for consistency this season, defied expectations by grabbing fourth place. A late wobble nearly sent him into the wall, but Ricciardo kept his composure to secure a strong starting position for the sprint race.
Disappointment reigned at Mercedes. Both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell failed to progress beyond Q2, marking a disastrous start to their Miami campaign. Hamilton, who has been chasing Verstappen all season, will need a significant comeback in the sprint and main race to keep his championship hopes alive.
Further down the grid, there were impressive performances from the resurgent Aston Martin duo of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, who qualified P7 and P8 respectively. Oscar Piastri, the young Australian rookie in the other green car, continued to impress by taking P6.
The drama unfolded not just at the front of the grid but also in the midfield. Lando Norris, who topped both Q1 and Q2 in his McLaren, had a disappointing Q3. The Briton struggled on the soft tires and ultimately only managed P10, behind even Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg.
Verstappen’s pole position puts him in a prime position to extend his championship lead in the Miami sprint race. However, with Leclerc and Red Bull breathing down his neck, and a resurgent midfield adding spice to the mix, the battle for Miami supremacy promises to be a thrilling one.
