Welcome to news.com.au’s live coverage of the Miami F1 Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen will start on pole position and is chasing his fifth win of the year as he continues on track to a fourth consecutive world championship.
Ferrari duo Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz separate Verstappen and Sergio Perez on the starting grid, while McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri start fifth and sixth.
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Despite impressing with a superb fourth place finish in the Sprint race, Australia’s Daniel Ricciardo starts dead last on the grid after going P18 in qualifying before
Ricciardo finished P18 in qualifying and a three-place grid penalty carried over from the Chinese Grand Prix, he will start 20th.
6am – Newey’s Ferrari handshake says it all
With Verstappen dominating this season again, all eyes are on the off track movement following the news car designer Adrian Newey was leaving the team.
They say a picture paints a thousand words, so make what you will of photos of Newey looking at the Ferrari and McLaren cars on the grid and shaking hands with Piero Ferrari — the only living son of Ferrari founder Enzo.
F1 world champion Jenson Button said on Sky Sports: “I love how Adrian is still looking at all the other cars on the grid. He’s definitely thinking about possibly racing here over the next couple of years, isn’t he.”
Newey, 65, is not required to take gardening leave but has said he would like to take a break from F1 and travel with his wife before deciding on his next move.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko was seen speaking with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff in the paddock, amid rumours of the Silver Arrows tabling a bumper offer to Verstappen.
“He’s won everything all weekend but he hasn’t had anything nice to say about the car,” Sky sports commentator Ted Kravtiz quipped about Verstappen.
5.45am – Trump, stars turn out in Miami
It wouldn’t be an F1 race in America without plenty of celebrities spotted on the grid and in the garages.
Donald Trump was seen rubbing shoulders with McLaren’s American CEO Zak Brown, who was chewing the presidential’s ear off.
Popstar Camila Cabello was also in attendance, along with the likes of Ed Sheeran, NFL champion Patrick Mahomes and Jake Paul.
Meanwhile, American motorsport legend Mario Andretti said he wants an F1 team “on the grid in 2026”. Andretti’s bid to join as an 11th team was recently rejected.
Miami GP starting grid
1) Max Verstappen, Red Bull
2) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
3) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
4) Sergio Perez, Red Bull
5) Lando Norris, McLaren
6) Oscar Piastri, McLaren
7) George Russell, Mercedes
8) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
9) Nico Hulkenberg, Haas
10) Yuki Tsunoda, RB
11) Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
12) Pierre Gasly, Alpine
13) Esteban Ocon, Alpine
14) Alex Albon, Williams
15) Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
16) Valtteri Bottas, Stake
17) Logan Sargeant, Williams
18) Kevin Magnussen, Haas
19) Zhou Guanyu, Stake
20) Daniel Ricciardo, RB