In a thrilling repeat of last year's events, Lando Norris clinched victory in the Miami Grand Prix sprint race, benefiting from a late safety car that reshaped the race's dynamics. The McLaren driver showcased his skill on a drying track, navigating through the chaos to secure his second consecutive sprint win at the Miami International Autodrome.
Norris's triumph came after Oscar Piastri, his teammate, initially took the lead from polesitter Kimi Antonelli with a daring maneuver into the first corner. Piastri controlled the race until he made a pit stop for slick tires on lap 13. Unfortunately for him, a crash involving Fernando Alonso triggered a safety car, allowing Norris to leapfrog into the lead as he exited the pits just before the race was halted.
“I don’t think I’m going to be buying a lottery ticket around this place,” Piastri remarked, reflecting on the disappointing turn of events. “I feel like I did everything right so a bit disappointed to come in second.” This marks the second consecutive year Piastri has missed out on a win in Miami due to a poorly-timed safety car, a bitter pill to swallow for the young Australian.
As the sprint concluded, Max Verstappen emerged as the star of the qualifying session for the main event, securing pole position with a blistering lap time of 1:26.204. Verstappen, who recently welcomed his first child, a daughter named Lily, with partner Kelly Piquet, demonstrated his prowess on the track, edging out Norris by a mere six hundredths of a second.
“It’s been a great qualifying, it worked out well and I’m very happy to be on pole,” Verstappen stated, clearly elated with his performance. With this pole, he has now achieved three this season, further solidifying his position as a leading contender for the championship.
The starting grid for the Miami Grand Prix, set to take place on May 5, 2025, showcases a competitive lineup. Following Verstappen and Norris are Kimi Antonelli in third and Oscar Piastri in fourth, both of whom have shown strong performances throughout the weekend. The full grid is as follows:
1 | Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 1:26.204
2 | Lando Norris (McLaren) 1:26.269
3 | Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) 1:26.271
4 | Oscar Piastri (McLaren) 1:26.375
5 | George Russell (Mercedes) 1:26.385
6 | Carlos Sainz (Williams) 1:26.569
7 | Alex Albon (Williams) 1:26.682
8 | Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 1:26.754
9 | Esteban Ocon (Haas) 1:26.824
10 | Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) 1:26.943
11 | Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) 1:26.987
12 | Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) 1:27.006
13 | Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) 1:27.151
14 | Jack Doohan (Alpine) 1:27.186
15 | Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) 1:27.363
16 | Nico Hülkenberg (Sauber) 1:27.473
17 | Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) 1:27.604
18 | Pierre Gasly (Alpine) 1:27.710
19 | Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) 1:27.830
20 | Oliver Bearman (Haas) 1:27.999
Despite a strong showing from McLaren, Ferrari struggled during qualifying, with Charles Leclerc managing only eighth after crashing earlier in the day. Lewis Hamilton faced a disappointing exit in Q2, finishing 12th, marking his lowest qualifying result since joining Ferrari.
The Miami Grand Prix promises to be an exciting race, especially with unpredictable weather conditions on the horizon, which could further shake up the standings. As the teams prepare for the main event, all eyes will be on Verstappen, Norris, and Piastri as they vie for supremacy on the track.
With the stage set for a thrilling showdown, fans are eagerly anticipating how the unpredictable Miami weather and the fierce competition will unfold in what is shaping up to be a pivotal race in the 2025 Formula 1 season.
