Verstappen races to Formula 1 pole in Miami

Max Verstappen strikes back. The sprint goes disastrously for the world champion, but he's unbeatable in qualifying.

After his sprint disaster, Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen raced to pole position for the Miami Grand Prix. The new father of a daughter narrowly beat Lando Norris in the McLaren to second place. For Verstappen, who had only finished 17th in the sprint after a time penalty, it was his third pole position of the season and his 43rd overall. Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli finished third, just ahead of championship leader Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren.

"It was a great qualifying session. We were able to improve the car even further," summarized Red Bull driver Verstappen. "I was able to get the car around the corners better and better as the session went on."

Nico Hülkenberg retired in the closing seconds of the first knockout phase. In the Kick Sauber, the Rhinelander finished a disappointing 16th for Sunday's Grand Prix (10:00 p.m. CEST/Sky). "It was pretty bad and not ideal, because more could have been achieved," said Hülkenberg, who lost a lot of time in the first sector.

Lewis Hamilton also finished qualifying shaking his head. After finishing third in the sprint, the Ferrari star's upswing didn't continue. He was eliminated in the second knockout round, finishing twelfth.

In the chaotic sprint race earlier, Norris raced to victory. On the still-wet track, the Englishman kept his composure despite numerous penalties and accidents. He won the spectacular 100-kilometer mini-event ahead of his McLaren teammate Piastri and Hamilton.

In the World Championship standings, Norris reduced his deficit to leader Piastri to nine points. A ten-second penalty for dangerously continuing down the pit lane catapulted Verstappen out of the points, meaning the father of daughter Lily now has 19 points less than the World Championship leader.