Max Verstappen celebrates becoming a father by taking pole position at the Miami Grand Prix ahead of Lando Norris – as Lewis Hamilton endures nightmare qualifying
Max Verstappen is the daddy on and off the track. Having become a father for the first time a few days before, he took pole for the Miami Grand Prix.
The Dutchman arrived in Florida late after his girlfriend Kelly Piquet gave birth to baby Lily, but he put sentiment aside to pip McLaren’s Lando Norris by six-hundredths of a second.
‘Becoming a dad has not slowed me down,’ smiled Verstappen. ‘I never listened to these silly things. I just do my thing.
‘There have been enough drivers who have been champions after becoming dads. I don’t know where the idea comes from.’
Norris can take a positive out of yesterday after winning the sprint race earlier in the afternoon with the help of a timely safety car, which put him ahead of team-mate and championship leader Oscar Piastri.
And in qualifying for today’s main event – for which rain is on the radar – Piastri was only fourth fastest, as he defends a nine-point advantage. Mercedes’ teenager Kimi Antonelli split the two McLarens.
Max Verstappen claimed pole at the Miami Grand Prix – the week he became a first-time father
He pipped his title rival – McLaren’s Lando Norris – to the top spot by just 0.065 seconds
Lewis Hamilton endured another depressing session. The seven-time world champion was eliminated in Q2 for the first time in his six-race Ferrari career, and will start 12th.
