News | Motoring
17 May 2025 19:19
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Motoring

    Piastri to start fourth on grid at Miami F1 Grand Prix as Verstappen takes pole

    Australia's F1 world championship leader Oscar Piastri will start fourth on the grid at the Miami Grand Prix, having earlier been frustrated by his second-place finish in the sprint race.


    Australia's F1 world championship leader Oscar Piastri will start fourth on the grid at the Miami Grand Prix, having earlier been frustrated by his second-place finish in the sprint race.

    Red Bull's reigning world champion Max Verstappen claimed pole position ahead of Piastri's McLaren teammate Lando Norris after topping qualifying.

    Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli qualified third fastest, with Piastri completing the second row.

    In the rain-hit sprint race that preceded the qualifying session, Piastri had been controlling proceedings until a late safety car gifted victory to Norris.

    Only 14 of the original 19 laps were raced.

    Piastri had looked set to increase his championship advantage on the wet circuit as he sped into the lead on the first corner.

    He was still clear with four laps remaining, only to pit at the most inopportune moment for slick tyres on a rapidly drying track.

    Norris was called in immediately afterwards, but the safety car was then deployed after Fernando Alonso crashed his Aston Martin into the wall.

    That meant Piastri had to slow and could not regain his lead.

    It gave Norris a badly needed victory and reduced his deficit behind Piastri in the championship by one point to nine.

    "I don't think I'm going to be buying a lottery ticket around this place," said Piastri, who finished second.

    "I feel like I did everything right so a bit disappointed to come in second.

    "But that's that's how it goes sometimes. Unfortunately, racing's a pretty cruel business so, hopefully, that means I get the luck for this afternoon and tomorrow. But another great start and I'm happy with what I did."

    The main race in Miami will be held on Monday morning AEST.

    Piastri had another superb start, just as he did in beating Verstappen to the first corner in his Saudi Arabian Grand Prix win.

    This time, he outpaced the youngest-ever F1 pole-sitter, 18-year-old Antonelli.

    Antonelli complained Piastri had pushed him off the track unfairly with his surge up the inside, but stewards disagreed and took no further action.

    Verstappen, who had originally finished fourth behind Lewis Hamilton, was demoted to 17th and last after Red Bull received a 10-second penalty for an unsafe pit-lane release.

    His car collided with the unfortunate Antonelli, who ended up 10th.

    With the track having dried out for qualifying, Piastri had been flying in Q2, setting the fastest lap of all in 1 minute and 26.269 seconds.

    But he could not match that in the final session, clocking only 1:26.375, which was bettered by Verstappen (1:26.204), Norris (1:26.269) and Antonelli (1:26.271).

    Verstappen is racing in Miami only days after he and his partner Kelly Piquet welcomed their first child, a daughter named Lily.

    "He's walking a step higher," said Verstappen's team boss Christian Horner.

    "But we see time and time again, when he crosses that line into the garage and puts his helmet on, everything disappears. His ability to focus and deliver is insane.

    "It's really truly impressive."

    Alpine's under-pressure Australian Jack Doohan finished 16th in the sprint and later out-qualified teammate Pierre Gasly for the first time to take 14th spot on the grid.

    AAP/Reuters

    © 2025 ABC Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved

     Other Motoring News
     17 May: New Zealand motorists are being urged to take data ranking countries speeds, with a grain of salt
     16 May: A stretch of motorway between Thames and Kopu in the Coromandel has reopened, after authorities attended to a person who was found on the road this morning
     16 May: A spate of car thefts in Wairarapa with 29 cars stolen in just two weeks
     15 May: A homicide investigation's under way - into a woman's death in a crash in Hamilton
     14 May: Lockdowns have lifted at three Nelson schools, that were shuttered during a Police response
     13 May: Economists are keeping a close eye on how global trade uncertainty plays out
     12 May: A bold tyre strategy has paid off for Supercars driver Matt Payne after winning race three of the Tasmania Super 440 by the third-closest margin the sport's history
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Vern Cotter's happy for his side to be labelled the 'boring Blues' if the results keep rolling in - ahead of tonight's trip to Albany to face Moana Pasifika More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    A report shows more Maori land's being dedicated to commercial horticulture use More...



     Today's News

    Rugby League:
    The Warriors lead the Dolphins 10-nil at halftime in their NRL encounter in Brisbane 18:57

    Law and Order:
    Members of the public at a West Auckland mall say they heard gunshots before many police descended on the area 18:47

    Rugby League:
    Strong travelling support's motivating Auckland FC for the away leg of their A League semi final against Melbourne Victory tonight 18:37

    Rugby:
    Vern Cotter's happy for his side to be labelled the 'boring Blues' if the results keep rolling in - ahead of tonight's trip to Albany to face Moana Pasifika 18:37

    Netball:
    The Northern Mystics have toppled the Central Pulse 59-48 in their ANZ Premiership netball grand final rematch in Auckland 18:27

    Law and Order:
    Police investigating after woman's suspicious death west of Brisbane 18:17

    Rugby League:
    Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has been confirmed to start on the wing for the Warriors in their NRL matchup with the Dolphins in Brisbane 17:27

    Rugby:
    A battle of the back-row's in tonight's Super Rugby clash between Moana Pasifika and the Blues at North Harbour Stadium 17:27

    International:
    What is 8647? Secret Service investigates former FBI director James Comey over seashells photo 16:07

    Rugby League:
    Warriors lock Erin Clark has credited co-captain Mitch Barnett for helping him excel in his return NRL season to Mt Smart 15:27


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd