Verstappen: “Being on the front row is incredible, I just hope I can race despite the rain”

What a leap forward. Raise your hand if you would have ever imagined that Max Verstappen could have hit the front row in Qualifying for the Miami GP. The Dutchman finished in fifth position in the Sprint Qualifying and was competitive in the Sprint, but the step forward between the Sprint and the Qualifying was notable. “The Sprint race was a bit chaotic at the start and we had a difficult first lap with some small problems with the power delivery after the start,” said Verstappen, “I think once on the open track the pace was quite good, so that was obviously a big advantage. Then, with a view to qualifying, we made some small changes which made the car even more competitive. I felt much more in control of the car, much more confident and not just a passenger, so everything was going right. Honestly, being in front row was incredible, but also a bit of a surprise.” “I think the work done in the last few weeks has been incredible and the team has done a really good job, fully deserving of this recognition – added the Dutchman – they put in all their efforts to find the problems and arrived in Miami with solutions, which is an extraordinary effort. It gives everyone a great boost of confidence, showing that what they have done is working. I think from here on out we just have to keep pushing, but we are going in the right direction. I just hope that tomorrow we can race despite the rain, we’ll see what happens.”

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News
2026-05-03 16:37:00