MAX VERSTAPPEN MAXIMUM
This weekend in Miami, Max Verstappen reminded F1 fans just how talented he is. It’s his third pole out of only six races total that’s been run thus far! This milestone victory marks Verstappen’s second straight pole, further proving his dominance at the Hard Rock Stadium. It marked him as the first driver to go back-to-back on pole at this track. His blistering lap set a scorching one minute 26.204 seconds.
Red Bull, particularly Verstappen, had a blistering pace all weekend, with the Dutchman coming out on top in the first round of qualifying. The man’s speed and precision on the track was mind-blowing. Lando Norris in second was just 0.065 seconds behind. Norris expressed admiration for Verstappen’s performance, stating, “Max did a Max lap once again and I can’t fault him. I’m happy and excited for tomorrow.”
Competitive Field
However intense the fight for pole position proved with an incredibly tight field, nobody made their competition look as bad as Verstappen did. Lando Norris, driving for McLaren, has emerged as a formidable competitor this season and will start right behind Verstappen on the grid. Norris praised Verstappen on all his accomplishments of late, stating, “Well done to Max, in particular for becoming a dad!” He continued jokingly, “I wanted something that would slow him down!”
Lewis Hamilton was in deep trouble in qualifying, finishing a lowly 12th. He voiced his frustrations regarding his team’s performance: “We will keep trying. We are only six races in but we are struggling big time.” This one statement sums up the struggles that Mercedes have faced this season, especially on tracks where they often have dominated in the past.
Alongside Hamilton’s woes, Pierre Gasly was outqualified by rookie Jack Doohan for the first time. Doohan, who finished second in the race, will line up P14 with Gasly directly behind him in P15. The grid is rounded out by Charles Leclerc in eighth, Esteban Ocon ninth, and Yuki Tsunoda in tenth.
Verstappen’s Reflections
Even with his record-smashing and largely unchallenged performance, Verstappen conceded that there were plenty of things he could do better. He noted that the track’s low-speed sections presented challenges for his vehicle’s handling: “In the low speed I’m still not happy. It’s not fully gripping how I want to but we’ve been more competitive over one lap. The race is a different story.”
Reflecting on his recent life changes as a new father, Verstappen remained confident about his ability to perform under pressure. He remarked, “Clearly it didn’t make me slower as well, being a dad, so that’s the positive.” Perhaps this sunny disposition will help propel him, as he seeks to win the race.
Looking Ahead
As the teams get ready to race on Sunday, it should be quite a show. George Russell from Mercedes acknowledged the strength of both McLaren and Red Bull while expressing hope for weather conditions to add unpredictability to the race: “A podium would be a win tomorrow. Realistically, the McLarens are out of reach. Max’s race pace has been in a league of its own for weeks now.
Verstappen put together a stellar lap in qualifying. With hungry challengers all set to do battle, Troupe’s got a tasty Miami Grand Prix to look forward to!
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