Lawson Starts 12th in Miami GP After Improved Qualifying, Rain May Aid His Cause

Key facts

• Liam Lawson qualified 12th for the Miami Grand Prix, 0.429s off a top-10 start.
• Lawson's teammate Arvid Lindblad will start 17th after elimination in Q1.
• Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes took pole with a 1m 27.798s lap, 0.166s ahead of Max Verstappen.
• Antonelli, 19, could be too young to drink the champagne if he wins.
• Heavy rain is forecast for Miami, potentially aiding Lawson's wet-race prowess.
• Lawson was stripped of a seventh-place finish in last year's Miami sprint after a collision.
• Power issues plagued Lawson in Sunday's sprint race, where he finished 14th.
• Nico Hulkenberg's Audi team has faced reliability problems; teammate Bortoleto failed to qualify.

Qualifying Gains and Grid Position

Liam Lawson delivered an improved qualifying performance for Formula One's Miami Grand Prix, securing 12th on the grid for Monday's race. The Racing Bulls driver fell 0.429 seconds short of a top-10 berth but comfortably outpaced his rookie teammate Arvid Lindblad, who was eliminated in Q1 and will start 17th. Lawson's qualifying effort also placed him one spot behind Nico Hulkenberg, whose Audi team has struggled with reliability throughout the weekend. Gabriel Bortoleto, Hulkenberg's teammate, was unable to qualify at all, raising the possibility of a grid upgrade for Lawson before lights out.

Lawson's Assessment: 'Everything We Had'

Reflecting on his session, Lawson stated, 'Honestly, that's pretty much everything we had. We made a small improvement, but I guess everyone else did.' He acknowledged the gap to the top 10, saying, 'I think it's a bit too much of a step to catch the guys in the top 10. They're a bit quicker than us, but we had good race pace this morning.' Lawson tempered expectations for the race: 'If everyone finishes, and everything stays normal, it'll be quite tough, but we never know.' The comment underscores the uncertainty that could play in his favor, especially if weather intervenes.

Antonelli's Pole Streak and Championship Lead

Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli claimed pole position for the third consecutive grand prix, clocking a best time of 1 minute 27.798 seconds. The 19-year-old championship leader edged four-time world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull by 0.166 seconds, while Ferrari's Charles Leclerc took third, 0.345 seconds adrift. Reigning world champion Lando Norris qualified fourth, 0.385 seconds off the pace, despite McLaren's earlier sprint victory. Antonelli's dominance sets up a potential awkward moment: if he wins, he would be too young to drink the celebratory champagne.

Weather and History: A Wet Opportunity

Heavy rain is forecast for Miami, a scenario that could benefit Lawson. Last year, rain fell during the Miami sprint race, and Lawson advanced from 14th to seventh before being disqualified for a collision with Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso. The Kiwi's wet-race ability is well-regarded, and a repeat downpour could allow him to climb the order. However, Lawson faces a persistent power issue that resurfaced in Sunday morning's sprint race, where he finished 14th. The problem, which has haunted him before, could undermine any weather advantage.

Sprint Qualifying Controversy and Albon's Penalty

Lawson's weekend began with frustration in sprint qualifying. He was eliminated in SQ1 after being pipped by Williams' Alex Albon, initially dropping to 17th. An FIA investigation later determined that Albon had exceeded track limits at Turn 6 during his final SQ1 lap, a transgression not reported until SQ2 had begun. The stewards deleted Albon's SQ1 lap and all subsequent SQ2 times, demoting him to 19th for the sprint. Lawson was reinstated to 16th. 'It's a series of bad events,' Lawson told media, citing a misplaced garage exit and a poor outlap. 'I think the car has actually improved from this morning, so it's a shame.'

Outlook: Stakes and Uncertainties

Lawson's 12th-place start marks an improvement over his 2024 Miami qualifying (15th), though that race ended in a first-lap retirement after a collision with then-Alpine driver Jack Doohan. The forecast rain and potential grid upgrades offer pathways to points, but power reliability remains a concern. With Antonelli on pole and Verstappen, Leclerc, and Norris close behind, the front of the grid promises a tight battle. For Lawson, the race at 8 a.m. Monday could be a defining moment in a season of mixed fortunes.

The bottom line

• Liam Lawson qualified 12th for the Miami Grand Prix, outpacing teammate Lindblad and improving on his 2024 qualifying position.
• Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli secured his third consecutive pole, leading Verstappen and Leclerc.
• Heavy rain forecast could aid Lawson, who excelled in wet conditions last year despite a subsequent disqualification.
• Lawson's power issues resurfaced in the sprint, threatening his race-day performance.
• Alex Albon was penalized for track limits in sprint qualifying, promoting Lawson to 16th.
• Lawson's teammate Lindblad starts 17th, and Hulkenberg's Audi team faces reliability woes, potentially offering Lawson a grid upgrade.