MIAMI, Fla. — In one corner of the paddock at Hard Rock Stadium, Kimi Antonelli was celebrating his first pole position in Formula 1, taking P1 for the upcoming Formula 1 sprint race at the Miami Grand Prix.
Meanwhile, other drivers who had started the 2025 season alongside Antonelli were still searching for solutions, finding it tough to make any headway.
Lewis Hamilton noted, “It was a better session. The P1 was probably a little better. The car felt easier to drive.” However, he ended up qualifying seventh.
He expressed a lack of optimism about his chances for the race, saying, “I think all the cars ahead are fast. I’m not sure what else to add.”
When asked if improvements could be made before qualifying, Hamilton mentioned that there were always “ideas” to consider.
“There’s always an idea. Whether they’re right or not… there’s definitely a shift in setup that we need to address to enhance our performance for the weekend,” he remarked.
On the other hand, Charles Leclerc, who qualified just ahead of Hamilton in P6, voiced his own frustrations regarding the underwhelming pace of the SF-25.
“Bad,” Leclerc said about his qualifying performance. “The overall laps were decent, but right now, there’s really no pace, which is a bit of a headache. That’s just how it is for now.”
Leclerc was determined to make a strong start during the race, but added, “Honestly, there isn’t much room for improvement today. It’s just… the car’s pace is what it is.”
He acknowledged problems with cornering, stating, “It’s every corner. It’s not that we’re particularly weak in one area, but slow speeds do seem to reveal more of our shortcomings. And it’s frustrating because it varies from week to week.”
Despite this, Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur seemed somewhat more hopeful than his drivers. “Antonelli did an incredible job,” he said in a post-session media briefing.
He continued, “The situation behind him was much tighter, and we weren’t too far from the cars in front, but it just didn’t gel. There were a few mistakes, and I struggled with the car’s balance, which is just part of the game in Formula 1.”
Vasseur added, “Tomorrow’s sprint race will hinge on tire management and degradation, so it could play out differently.”
Traffic could pose problems for both Hamilton and Leclerc. Leclerc had pointed out during a media session that navigating through dirty air is particularly challenging this season. Hamilton previously won the F1 sprint race at the China Grand Prix partly because he had qualified ahead.
“These cars are tough to handle in dirty air; it makes for an interesting challenge,” Leclerc noted.
If either driver manages to find some clear air, they might have a shot during the F1 Sprint race on Saturday. Yet, with the competitive cars starting ahead of them, it’s bound to be a tough battle.
