Formula 1 officials announced this Saturday (2) that the start of the Miami Grand Prix, this Sunday (3), was brought forward by three hours due to the forecast of strong storms.
The start of the race, the fourth of the season, was rescheduled for 2pm Brasília (1pm local time), instead of the originally scheduled 5pm.
“This decision was taken to guarantee the minimum disruption to the race and provide the largest possible window for the conclusion of the Grand Prix in the best conditions, prioritizing the safety of drivers, fans, teams and employees”, declared the FIA (International Automobile Federation) and the race promoters in a joint statement.
The young Italian driver Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), leader of the Formula 1 World Championship, took pole position this Saturday, finishing ahead of the Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull) by 0.166 seconds and the Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) by 0.345 seconds.
The 19-year-old new Mercedes star thus achieved his third consecutive pole position in a Grand Prix this season — a season in which he emerged as the youngest driver to lead Formula 1.
Antonelli redeemed himself after the defeat in the sprint race held a few hours earlier, in which the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri put an end to Mercedes’ absolute dominance in the first three races on the calendar.
“It was a difficult start to the day with the sprint, where things didn’t go in our favor,” acknowledged Antonelli, who received a five-second penalty during that race for exceeding track limits, dropping from fourth to sixth place.
“I’m happy with the classification… I was very tense, to be honest, waiting for everyone to finish their laps, but it was enough”, he celebrated.
Antonelli had already taken pole position in the two previous Grands Prix, in China and Japan, where he would later take victory.
British driver Norris, current world champion, will start from fourth place in Sunday’s race, ahead of George Russell (Mercedes), Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) and Piastri.
The start of the second phase of qualifying was delayed due to a fire in the engine of the Audi driven by Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto, which forced him to stop on the track. Bortoleto will start from the last position on the grid (22nd) in this Sunday’s race.
He was one of those eliminated during the first phase of the session, along with Spanish veteran Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) and Mexican Sergio Pérez (Cadillac), who finished in twenty-first place.
Before the start of the sprint race, a minute’s silence was observed in memory of former Italian F1 driver Alex Zanardi, who passed away on Friday night, aged 59, in his home country.
Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix starting grid
1st row
Kimi Antonelli (ITA/Mercedes)
Max Verstappen (HOL/Red Bull)
2nd row
Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari)
Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes)
3rd row
George Russell (GBR/Mercedes)
Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Ferrari)
4th row
Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren-Mercedes)
Franco Colapinto (ARG/Alpine-Mercedes)
5th row
Isack Hadjar (FRA/Red Bull)
Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine-Mercedes)
6th row
Nico Hülkenberg (ALE/Audi)
Liam Lawson (NZL/Racing Bulls-Red Bull)
7th row
Oliver Bearman (GBR/Haas-Ferrari)
Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Williams-Mercedes)
8th row
Esteban Ocon (FRA/Haas-Ferrari)
Alexander Albon (TAI/Williams-Mercedes)
9th row
Arvid Lindblad (GBR/Racing Bulls-Red Bull)
Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin-Honda)
10th row
Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin-Honda)
Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Cadillac-Ferrari)
11th row
Sergio Pérez (MEX/Cadillac-Ferrari)
Gabriel Bortoleto (BRA/Audi)
