Max Verstappen continued his dominance on American soil by taking pole position for the Miami Grand Prix with a stunning 1:26.204 lap, edging out Lando Norris by just 0.065 seconds.
Fresh off winning the sprint race, Norris pushed hard to dethrone the reigning champion but settled for second on the grid, while 18-year-old Mercedes sensation Kimi Antonelli grabbed third to underline his fast-rising reputation.
It was another frustrating afternoon for Lewis Hamilton, whose maiden season with Ferrari hit another snag as he failed to reach Q3 and will line up 12th on Sunday.
Verstappen, who recently became a father, looked razor-sharp from the start of qualifying, improving steadily through all three sessions to put himself in prime position for a third Miami win in four years.
Norris, last year’s Miami GP winner, lamented a missed opportunity but remained upbeat about McLaren’s pace, while Antonelli, despite a quiet sprint result, continues to impress with maturity beyond his years.
With unpredictable weather on the radar and no clear long-run data due to the sprint format, Sunday’s race promises high drama under the Florida sun.
