Antonelli Claims Miami Sprint Pole; Alonso Surprises in Qualifying
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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Teh Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix weekend, featuring the Sprint format for the second time this season, saw a surprising turn of events during SaturdayS sprint qualifying. Young gun Kimi Antonelli secured the sprint pole, demonstrating his potential to shake up the established order. The Miami Grand Prix is the sixth round of the Formula 1 season.
Antonelli’s “Minipole” Signals Rising Star
Antonelli, at just 18 years old, will start Saturday’s Sprint race alongside McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. Fernando Alonso, driving for Aston Martin, qualified 10th after reaching SQ3, while Carlos Sainz of Ferrari will start from 15th.
Piastri’s performance reinforces McLaren’s strength, suggesting that Norris faces internal competition for team leadership. The dynamic within McLaren indicates that Lando Norris is no longer the undisputed leader, a shift that has occurred in recent months.
The miami Grand Prix has secured its place on the Formula 1 calendar with a contract extension through 2041. While other historic races like Belgium’s Spa and the Netherlands’ Zandvoort face uncertain futures beyond 2028, Miami’s blend of racing and marketing appeal ensures its long-term presence. Madrid has a contract for 10 years until 2035.
Qualifying Session Highlights
The qualifying session began with unexpected results in Q1, hinting at the drama to come in Q3. The Q1 session was somewhat disorganized, with potential penalties looming. max Verstappen was speedy to set a good time early in the session.
Alonso also showed pace in Q1, setting the fifth-fastest time to advance to Q2. Sainz also progressed, finishing Q1 in a solid fifth position. Drivers eliminated in Q1 included Stroll, Doohan, Tsunoda, Bortoleto, and Bearman. Antonelli topped the Q1 timesheets.
In SQ2, Antonelli continued to impress, challenging Russell. However,Piastri set the fastest lap with a time of 1:27.354, with Norris close behind. Verstappen briefly took the lead, foreshadowing a tight battle for the top spots.
Lewis Hamilton struggled, lagging behind Leclerc by a critically important margin, placing Leclerc as a potential challenger to McLaren in the Sprint qualifying.
alonso Advances to Q3
Alonso’s performance was a surprise. Known for his skill when equipped with the right machinery, Alonso maximized his Aston Martin’s potential in Q2. The Spaniard secured a spot in the final round, finishing a meritorious seventh, while Sainz missed the cut. hulkenberg,ocon,Gasly,and Lawson were also eliminated.
sainz, who had shown strong pace throughout the weekend, made a mistake at Turn 11 and was knocked out. Despite starting 15th, his pace suggests a potential comeback. Alonso, simultaneously occurring, capitalized on his opportunity.
In SQ3, drivers pushed their limits. Piastri and Leclerc narrowly made their only attempt in the session. While attention focused on mclaren and Verstappen’s second attempt, Antonelli, Mercedes’s promising young driver, delivered a stunning performance to claim the top spot. He was ahead of Piastri and Norris, with Verstappen fourth and the Ferraris further back. Alonso finished 10th for Saturday’s Sprint race. Hadjar finished ninth and Albon eighth.
| Position | Driver | team |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| 2 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren |
| 3 | Lando Norris | McLaren |
| 4 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull |
| 10 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin |
| 15 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari |
