It's a Papaya on Pole!
Mercedes fail to take a pole position for the first time this season as Lando Norris takes top spot. With Kimi Antonelli behind him
Lando Norris takes Sprint Pole in Miami!
The gap at the top has seemingly shrunk massively, with Norris becoming the first non-Mercedes driver to take pole position this season. Following a month long break, McLaren were 1 of many teams to make upgrades to their car, those upgrades proving their value early on. Norris outqualified his teammate Oscar Piastri for the first time in Miami as well, the Australian starting P3 for the Sprint. At the track where he got his first win in Formula 1 2 years ago, will Norris become the first non-Mercedes winner? Or will the Silver Arrows still hold long distance advantages? Or can someone else make a charge?
Have Mercedes been caught?
The opening 3 Grand Prix al saw a Mercedes on Pole and win the race, leaving everyone else in the dust. However Miami isn't painting that story so far. Whilst Kimi Antonelli does start 2nd, having gone just a tenth slower than Norris in SQ3, his teammate and current Championship Rival George Russell only managed 6th. 7 tenths slower than Norris. It will seem so long ago since Australia where the brit qualified 9 tenths faster than Norris, and having been beat by his teammate in the last 2 races, is George Russell already seeing his best chance at a World Championship slip away? The upgrades McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull (Red Bull having their own Macarena wing) have all brought has seemingly made it much tighter at the top, and Russell could be in danger of other drivers catching up in the next coming races. And whilst Kimi Antonelli for now is still delivering, could Miami be the start of the end of Mercedes dominance?
Aston Martin hit new low
Despite a month to improve, Aston Martin seem to be worse if anything in Miami. The slowest time in the Formula 2 qualifying session earlier that day saw a time of 1:41.157. Aston Martin's fastest Sprint Qualifying time was 1:41.311. Aston Martin where the only team not to bring any upgrades to Miami as they continue to slump at the back of the grid, with no light visible at this moment in time for the team who just a few years ago where fighting for podiums.
Alex Albon Track Limit Confusion?
Alex Albon originally qualified P14, ahead of his teammate Carlos Sainz. But throughout SQ2 was being investigated for a track limit violation on his SQ1 lap, which prompted Racing Bulls to prepare Liam Lawson, who was knocked out in P17 in SQ1, in the event Albon has his lap deleted. Which would have allowed Lawson to take part in SQ2. However the penalty never came during the session. Instead after qualifying ended, Albon had his SQ1 time deleted. Meaning he will start the Sprint P19, and Lawson will start P16, however the kiwi will be annoyed he didn't get the chance he should have had to qualify in a higher position.
Sprint Qualifying Results
1. LANDO NORRIS
2. KIMI ANTONELLI
3. OSCAR PIASTRI
4. CHARLES LECLERC
5. MAX VERSTAPPEN
6. GEORGE RUSSELL
7. LEWIS HAMILTON
8. FRANCO COLAPINTO
9. ISACK HADJAR
10. PIERRE GASLY
11. GABRIEL BORTOLETO
12. NICO HULKENBERG
13. OLLIE BEARMAN
14. CARLOS SAINZ
15. ARVID LINDBALD
16. LIAM LAWSON
17. ESTEBAN OCON
18. SERGIO PEREZ
19. ALEX ALBON
20. VALTTERI BOTTAS
NC. FERNANDO ALONSO
NC. LANCE STROLL
1:27.869
1:28.091
1:28.108
1:28.239
1:28.461
1:28.493
1:28.618
1:29.320
1:29.422
1:29.474
1:29.994
1:30.019
1:30.116
1:30.224
1:30.573
1:31.043
1:31.245
1:31.255
1:31.322 (1:30.216 SQ2)
1:31.826
1:41.311
NO TIME SET