Miami GP qualifying report: Ferrari miss out on front row as Kimi Antonelli leads the field. Ferrari frustrated in Miami qualifying as Antonelli takes third straight pole.

Kimi Antonelli takes third consecutive pole position in Miami

Kimi Antonelli continues to impress in extraordinary fashion. The 19-year-old Italian driver secured his third consecutive pole position at the Miami Grand Prix, delivering a performance that underlined his growing dominance in Formula 1 qualifying sessions. It was an authoritative display, confirming Mercedes as the benchmark over a single lap.

Starting alongside Antonelli on the front row for Sunday’s race — scheduled to begin at 22:00 under expected wet conditions — will be Max Verstappen. The Dutch driver produced an exceptional lap to snatch second place ahead of Charles Leclerc, who had to settle for third. Lewis Hamilton will start from sixth position.

Q1: Antonelli sets the early benchmark

In Q1, Max Verstappen immediately set a blistering pace on soft tyres, placing himself ahead of the in-form Antonelli and Lando Norris, followed by the Ferrari drivers. George Russell, meanwhile, appeared to struggle early on. Further down the order, the battle intensified as multiple drivers pushed to secure a competitive lap time.

The two Ferrari drivers opted not to take risks and returned to the track for additional runs, as did Russell and Oscar Piastri. Antonelli also went back out and delivered a remarkable lap, moving to the top of the standings with nearly half a second advantage over Verstappen. Charles Leclerc, on used tyres, climbed up to second place.

The eliminated drivers were, as expected, those from Aston Martin and Cadillac, along with Arvid Lindblad and Gabriel Bortoleto, the latter managing to complete only a single lap right at the end of the session.

Q2: Verstappen responds, Ferrari stays in the fight

Q2 proved to be an excellent and highly competitive session. Max Verstappen attempted to set the benchmark early, initially going fastest, but his time did not stand for long. Charles Leclerc improved to take the lead, and Lewis Hamilton also delivered a strong lap, placing himself ahead of his Ferrari teammate on this occasion.

George Russell matched Hamilton’s lap time exactly, while Antonelli once again moved to the top by 0.125 seconds. Oscar Piastri held fifth place, while Lando Norris made a mistake and was forced to push hard on his next attempt to avoid elimination.

All drivers returned to the track in the closing stages to secure their positions. Verstappen produced a superb lap to finish fastest, ahead of Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc. Eliminated at this stage were Nico Hulkenberg, Liam Lawson, Oliver Bearman, Carlos Sainz, Esteban Ocon, and Alexander Albon.

Q3: Antonelli delivers a sensational lap

In Q3, Kimi Antonelli once again proved to be on another level. With the field incredibly close, the championship leader produced a stunning lap, gaining three and a half tenths over Charles Leclerc, who was second at that stage, followed by Verstappen and Norris. George Russell held fifth, with Lewis Hamilton in sixth ahead of Oscar Piastri.

Antonelli’s lap time appeared virtually unbeatable. Nevertheless, all drivers returned to the track for a final attempt, aiming to get as close as possible to the Mercedes driver. In the end, Antonelli secured his third consecutive pole position, emulating Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher, both of whom followed their first pole with a second and third in succession.

Max Verstappen qualified second, with Charles Leclerc in third. The next positions were occupied by the British drivers: Lando Norris, George Russell, and Lewis Hamilton.

Starting grid for the Miami Grand Prix

Row 1: Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

Row 2: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), Lando Norris (McLaren)

Row 3: George Russell (Mercedes), Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)

Row 4: Oscar Piastri (McLaren), Franco Colapinto (Alpine)

Row 5: Isack Hadjar (Red Bull), Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

Row 6: Nico Hulkenberg (Audi), Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)

Row 7: Ollie Bearman (Haas), Carlos Sainz (Williams)

Row 8: Esteban Ocon (Haas), Alexander Albon (Williams)

Row 9: Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls), Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

Row 10: Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)

Row 11: Sergio Perez (Cadillac), Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)

The stage is now set for a fascinating Miami Grand Prix, with Kimi Antonelli aiming to convert his remarkable qualifying form into yet another standout race result, while Ferrari and Red Bull prepare to challenge him in what could be a dramatic, rain-affected contest.