P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen has admitted that he was surprised that his “terrible lap” in SQ3 was enough to bag pole position
Verstappen initially chased McLaren’s Lando Norris in the first two segments, but then outpaced Charles Leclerc with a four-tenths improvement on Softs to secure the top spot. Despite claiming pole, Verstappen admitted that his lap wasn’t ideal balance-wise, leading to a “terrible” feeling while driving his Red Bull car. The Dutchman struggled to get the tires to work in the final session, with a similar feeling of difficulty persisting from SQ2 to SQ3. Despite the lack of enjoyment during the drive, Verstappen managed to secure the pole position but acknowledged the challenges he faced during the session.
Even though he topped the times in practice at the Miami International Autodrome, Verstappen’s confidence in his Red Bull diminished during qualifying, especially after being 0.255s behind Norris in SQ1. While feeling comfortable and confident after practice, he found qualifying to be a different story, leaving him surprised at still ending up in first place. Red Bull missed out on a front-row lockout as Ferrari’s Leclerc secured second place, outpacing Sergio Perez in the process. Despite the ups and downs, Verstappen’s ability to clinch pole despite the challenging conditions showcased his skill and determination on the track.
