Max Verstappen back to his best with P2 qualifying as 'disappointing' Oscar Piastri slides down to seventh
After threatening to quit most weeks across the start of the Formula 1 season, Max Verstappen might just be back to his best.
The break forced by the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix might have done him and Red Bull wonders, with the four-time champion driver claiming P2 for Monday's Miami Grand Prix.
Verstappen dominated the first two sessions of qualifying, before narrowly missing out on pole to Mercedes rising star Kimi Antonelli.
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Max Verstappen gives a thumbs up after qualifying in Miami. Getty
From openly stating how he wasn't having fun and wasn't enjoying the new car regulations, Verstappen said after qualifying that he was impressed with the changes made in the five weeks off.
"For me it's been two things. For sure it's the car not being great in the previous races, but also on my side I never felt comfortable with the layout of the car," Verstappen told Sky Sports.
"I think over those last few weeks the team has been pushing flat out to try and bring upgrades to the car and trying to make me feel a lot more comfortable with a lot of things in the car and it really pays off.
"I mean, I feel more in control of the car again and I can push a bit more again and the upgrades are working and to be on the front row is way better than I expected heading into this weekend."
As for Antonelli, he has now claimed pole in three consecutive races, joining legends of the sport Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna in having the first three pole qualifying runs of his career come in a row.
Things did not go as smoothly for McLaren's Oscar Piastri however.
The Aussie only barely got through Q1 after a shaky start and ultimately qualified seventh for the Miami race.
He struggled significantly in sector two, losing time and ultimately falling well down the starting grid.
"Big disappointment for Oscar Piastri," Sky Sports commentator David Croft said as qualifying concluded.
Charles Leclerc qualified third, with Lando Norris behind him in fourth.
Norris took home Saturday's sprint race from Antonelli in second and Piastri in third.
All eyes now turn to the Miami Grand Prix from 6am on Monday, following the five-week break.
