Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli continues strong form with Miami Grand Prix Pole

Formula 1 is back after an unexpected month-long break due to the war in the Middle East, and somehow the series has reconvened in Miami, not where we were, if that makes sense.

Maybe not, but I’ll explain.

In the first three races there were clearly two best teams: Mercedes and Ferrari. Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli also came to Miami and won two Grand Prix in a row and is the leader of the current championship.

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But teams introduced a significant number of upgrades – plus the FIA ​​and F1 changed the rules slightly after some team feedback – and suddenly we were faced with more teams fighting at the front.

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This was noticed in the Saturday morning Sprint, which featured the McLaren 1-2 led by reigning world champion Lando Norris.

But the biggest change came in qualifying.

The Silver Arrows’ 19-year-old superstar took pole position by around a tenth and a half, but the surprising thing was that he was struggling with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

Red Bull struggled greatly in the first three rounds of the season and were even challenging for pole position, despite Verstappen’s surprise appearance in the post-session interview.

Even crazier, four different teams are represented in the first two rows of the grid: Mercedes with Antonelli on pole, Red Bull and Verstappen in second, Ferrari and Charles Leclerc in third, and McLaren and Norris in fourth.

Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli (center) with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (left) and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc after qualifying for the Miami Grand Prix. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

All eyes will now be on the start of what is expected to be a wet race.

Starts have been the Achilles heel for Mercedes and Antonelli in particular this season; This is something seen during the Saturday morning Sprint.

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Fortunately, Verstappen’s start wasn’t the best, though. UnfortunatelyStarting just behind Antonelli are Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari, and the Scuderia’s cars have been literally off the line all season (since pre-season testing, in fact).

Even going into Turn 1 at the short corner of just under 200 meters at the Miami International Autodrome, I think we’ll see Leclerc jump at least one of the front row cars, perhaps both.

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli celebrates pole position at the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

Maybe rainy weather could reduce Ferrari’s advantage when the lights go out, but even so, Antonelli has Verstappen, the enemy of wet weather, next to him.

Antonelli’s best chance of a third straight Grand Prix would be to come off the line cleanly and hold off the lead heading into Turn 1, but regardless, this is shaping up to be the biggest challenge of his championship campaign so far.