Verstappen stays unstoppable in Miami: fatherhood, McLaren, and a pole position masterclass
Max Verstappen Secures Miami Pole Amid Fatherhood Headlines
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — If anyone thought the arrival of his first child might dampen Max Verstappen’s dominance, they were proven utterly wrong in Miami on Saturday. The reigning Formula 1 world champion silenced doubters, securing an exquisite pole position at the Miami Grand Prix with a lap that edged McLaren’s Lando Norris by just 0.065 seconds.
Following a frustrating sprint race earlier in the day, Verstappen returned to form at the circuit winding through Hard Rock Stadium, delivering a performance that was, quite literally, business as usual for the four-time world champion.
With the looming chance of rain for Sunday’s grand prix — conditions where Verstappen’s skills often transcend into something almost mythical — it’s hard to bet against the Dutchman claiming his second win of the 2025 season. Despite McLaren’s strong start to the year, Verstappen’s consistent brilliance continues to underline his status as a frontrunner for the championship.
Fatherhood Headlines Shut Down by Verstappen
Fatherhood had been a hot topic ahead of the weekend. Verstappen arrived in Miami late Thursday night — missing media day — after the birth of his daughter, Lily, with partner Kelly Piquet. The old racing cliché that becoming a parent drains a few vital tenths of a second from lap times was quickly shut down by Verstappen.
“Clearly, it didn’t make me slower being a dad, so that’s a positive,” Verstappen noted in the press conference post-qualifying. “So we can throw that out of the window as well, for people mentioning it.”
That trope gained notoriety courtesy of Fernando Alonso, who once famously said in 2005, after his daring overtake on Michael Schumacher at Suzuka’s infamous 130R, “I knew he would brake because he has a wife and two kids at home.” Now 20 years on, Alonso, a self-proclaimed realist, laughed off the comment earlier this week: “I no longer think the same to be true.”
Unmoved by such narratives, Verstappen brushed aside the speculation surrounding fatherhood and racecraft. “I don’t really listen to these kinds of silly things,” he said. “I think there are enough racing drivers in the past who have been world champions even after having kids. Honestly, I don’t know where this has even come from.”
History is certainly on Verstappen’s side. Racing legends like Nelson Piquet (Lily’s grandfather), Michael Schumacher, Graham Hill, Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill, and Nico Rosberg all secured world titles after becoming fathers. From the looks of Saturday’s performance, Verstappen is poised to keep that tradition alive.
Exciting Front Row: Verstappen and Norris
Stepping away from fatherhood headlines, the Miami showdown will feature a thrilling front-row lineup: Verstappen vs. Norris, a pairing that evoked memories of their fierce duels in 2024.
Norris, fresh off his lucky sprint race victory earlier in the day thanks to a perfectly timed safety car intervention, acknowledged his fortune. “My luck in Miami seems pretty good at the minute, so I’m happy,” Norris said after the sprint.
His Australian teammate and championship leader Oscar Piastri was less enthusiastic, having been on the receiving end of bad timing. “I won’t be buying a lottery ticket in South Florida anytime soon,” Piastri quipped.
Norris made an error in Turn 17 during his final Q3 lap, which potentially cost him pole position. Nevertheless, lining up second will be a confidence boost as he aims to fend off both Verstappen and Piastri, who starts fourth. More importantly for Norris, beating his teammate remains a weekend-defining task as he seeks to push back against talk of recent inconsistencies.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli Shines in Qualifying
Saturday also belonged to Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes’ rookie sensation, who delivered a career-best qualifying result by securing third on the grid. The 19-year-old Italian had his momentarily bright start in the sprint race undone by a collision with Verstappen in the pit lane, but he rebounded strongly in qualifying, marking the first time he had outpaced his highly-rated teammate George Russell over a full weekend.
Antonelli’s rapid rise has not gone unnoticed within the paddock. At just 19, he already owns several “youngest-ever” accolades, with Friday's sprint pole marking him as the youngest to achieve such a feat in Formula 1 history.
Even Verstappen, who knows a thing or two about rewriting records, tipped his hat to Antonelli’s Miami performance. “I’m not surprised,” Verstappen told reporters. “When you just start in Formula 1, there’s so much to learn. To already be at this pace is very impressive, but I’m not surprised. He’ll only get better, to be honest. I think it’s as simple as that.”
Norris added his perspective, though not without a touch of humor. “I think that fed his ego enough!” Norris joked before turning serious. “In all honesty, he’s in Formula 1 for a reason. Everything else he did in his car racing career has been very strong. If he’s now able to beat a teammate like George [Russell] — who beat Lewis [Hamilton] these past couple of years — then he’s clearly doing a very good job.”
For his part, Antonelli remained composed in the spotlight, jokingly responding to the praise with, “Too kind!”
All Eyes on the Miami Grand Prix
As the grid prepares to take the green flag for Sunday’s grand prix, all eyes will be on the usual suspects — Verstappen, Norris, Piastri — and the rising star, Antonelli. With the potential for rain and a high-stakes title fight brewing, the stage is set for a thrilling contest under the Miami sun.
Don’t blink — the story of the 2025 Formula 1 season is just getting started.
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