World Championship leader Max Verstappen has secured pole position for the Formula 1 race in Miami. The Red Bull driver left his Ferrari rival Charles Leclerc behind and took the best starting position for the Grand Prix on the Florida track for the first time.
In the past two years, the Dutchman had won the race but never taken pole position. Third in qualifying was Carlos Sainz in the second Ferrari.
Nico Hülkenberg made it into the final section of the grid hunt again in the Haas racing car and finished ninth. Three-time world champion Verstappen is clearly ahead in the overall standings after four wins in the first five races of the season. The 26-year-old is again the clear favorite for the Miami guest appearance on Sunday (10 p.m./Sky).
On Saturday afternoon, Verstappen also won the second Formula 1 sprint race of the season. The series winner relegated Leclerc to second place despite some problems with his car. Verstappen’s stablemate Sergio Pérez came third. Verstappen thus further expanded his lead in the World Cup standings. The triple champion also recently won the first sprint of the year in Shanghai.
Experienced Hülkenberg collected two more points for the overall ranking in the race, which was shortened to 100 kilometers. The Rhinelander benefited from some turbulence at the start, improving by three places and maintaining seventh place until the finish.
