In the final top 10 shootout at the Miami Autodrome, Max Verstappen took a thrilling lap, but his competitors also faced challenges in improving their times despite switching to softer tires. Lando Norris of McLaren, in particular, seemed to have missed an opportunity for a second consecutive sprint pole, with his previous lap time being faster than Verstappen’s pole-winning effort.
Verstappen managed to increase his gap by four-tenths, securing pole position with a time that was one-tenth ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, with his teammate Sergio Perez trailing another tenth behind. Verstappen, expressing his surprise over the team radio upon hearing his position, admitted that his car felt difficult to handle over a single lap despite his pole position achievement.
Reflecting on his qualifying experience, Verstappen revealed that he had initially felt confident after the practice session, but that confidence waned during qualifying. Despite feeling uncomfortable during the qualifying session, he managed to secure the top position. He expressed uncertainty about the performance of other cars during the final lap.
In addition to Leclerc and Perez, Daniel Ricciardo, Verstappen’s former teammate, made a notable comeback by securing a fourth place for RB, bouncing back from a challenging start to the 2024 season. The qualifying session at the Miami Autodrome showcased Verstappen’s ability to secure pole position despite difficulties and the competitive nature of the field, with drivers like Norris and Leclerc vying for the top spot.
