Australian driver Jack Doohan expressed his frustration with his team following a disappointing qualifying session at the Miami Grand Prix, where he was relegated to 17th on the grid. Doohan labelled his team’s strategy as “a joke” and termed their decision to release both cars from the pits simultaneously as “unacceptable.” This blunder meant that teammate Pierre Gasly was sent out first, leaving Doohan without adequate time to complete his final lap before the session concluded.
The incident occurred when Doohan spotted Gasly late, causing him to miss the opportunity to enter the pit lane cleanly and requiring assistance from his crew. “If you’re going to send him before me, you have to make sure he’s ready,” he vented over the team radio, expressing his dissatisfaction with the situation that ultimately led to his elimination in Q1.
Returning to the pits, Doohan reflected on the missed opportunity, stating, “It all comes down to the last flying lap. The feeling was good, but I ended up getting blocked on my way out of the pit lane, which was a mess-up because it was from the other car. I wasn’t able to do the final time lap.” He conveyed disappointment, noting the significance of having enough time for two laps in qualifying, as improvements often come with the second attempt.
In contrasting news, Kimi Antonelli made headlines by becoming the youngest pole-winner in Formula 1 history at just 18 years old. The Mercedes driver achieved this remarkable feat in only his first season, taking the top starting position for the sprint race. Antonelli expressed his delight, sharing that the achievement exceeded his expectations. He will start alongside current points leader Oscar Piastri of McLaren, who lost out on pole by a mere 0.045 seconds. This marks the first time since 2009 that an Italian driver has claimed pole position in Formula 1.
Lando Norris qualified third for McLaren, closely followed by Max Verstappen, while George Russell, the lead driver at Mercedes, secured fifth. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton completed the qualifications in sixth and seventh, respectively. Alex Albon from Williams qualified eighth, followed by Isack Hadjar of Racing Bulls and Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin.
This mixture of disappointment and triumph in qualifying highlights the intense competition in Formula 1, where strategy and timing can significantly impact race outcomes.