Miami, FL
Verstappen expects tough Miami F1 race with McLaren's better tyre management
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen is bracing for a difficult Miami Grand Prix despite defeating his McLaren Formula 1 rival Lando Norris to pole position.
Verstappen took his third pole of the season at the Miami International Autodrome on Saturday, defeating Norris by 0.065s and Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli by 0.067s in a thrilling qualifying session – with the second McLaren of Oscar Piastri in fourth.
Previously, Verstappen expertly used his track position at Suzuka to convert a pole into a hard-fought win, while in Saudi Arabia he was penalised for leaving the track at Turns 1-2 to keep Piastri behind, which likely ended up costing him another pole to flag win.
Miami’s 57-lap race is expected to be another one-stop contest which limits strategic options, but with a powerful DRS zone on the back straight, overtaking is not impossible either.
However, Verstappen felt Saturday’s wet-to-dry sprint race showed McLaren’s superior tyre management will still be an important factor, with both Piastri and Norris driving away from the world champion on the intermediates as the track dried up, reminiscent of a similar situation in the Melbourne season-opener.
“I think that overall they are better in the race,” Verstappen told Dutch media including Motorsport.com. “You saw that on intermediates in the rain as well. As soon as those tyres start to overheat, they have a huge advantage. So, then we are all doing something wrong with the tyres, apart from McLaren.
Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
“What I saw today in the rain was not so great, McLaren was stronger there as well. I think overall they are just a bit better now, so then it’s always going to be a difficult race. But at least we are in front on the grid and hopefully we can make it difficult for them.”
Verstappen also indicated running a higher mileage Honda engine will not help him defend his lead on the straights, admitting it “does quite make a difference this weekend”.
Yet at least Red Bull’s revised floor, which only Verstappen trialled this weekend, appears to have provided the net downforce increase the team had been expecting. But, he felt the true benefit won’t become clear until later in the season due to Miami’s awkward corner profiles.
“On this track it’s always very difficult to really judge something, because everything feels very weird here – both in terms of grip and also the corners are all very weird as well. I think we’ll know more when we go to Imola,” the four-time world champion explained, with Imola being the next stop on the calendar.
“We changed some small things going into qualifying and the car was turning a bit better. That’s positive, but obviously this is still not what we want or where we want to be. But it was actually better than expected.
“Before coming here to Miami, we thought this would be a tricky one with the slow-speed corners and kerbstones that you have to attack. That’s normally not our strongest point.”
Photos from Miami GP – Sprint & Qualifying
In this article
Filip Cleeren
Formula 1
Max Verstappen
Red Bull Racing
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Three people were hurt after a building caught fire on Lincoln Road on Sunday, according to authorities.
The Miami Beach Fire Department said it was working a fire near 230 Lincoln Road.
The flames had spread from a fire in a manhole that “ignited an FPL vault of an adjacent building,” officials said.
Three people were taken to Mount Sinai Medical Center with minor injuries.
The building was evacuated, and FPL has shut off power to the surrounding area, the fire department said.
Drivers were asked to avoid the area of Collins Avenue between 16th and 17th streets while crews worked the scene.
Miami, FL
“Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta” star Tommie Lee among 6 arrested during World Cup match in Miami, sheriff says
Reality television personality Tommie Lee — whose real name is Atasha Jefferson — best known for her appearances on “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta,” was among six people arrested during the England vs. Norway FIFA World Cup match in Miami on Saturday, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office said 60,024 fans attended the match. Deputies also reported 19 ejections from the stadium, adding that all incidents were isolated and handled quickly.
Authorities have not yet released the circumstances surrounding Jefferson’s arrest or any charges she may face.
A social media account that regularly reports celebrity news claimed Sunday that Jefferson was arrested July 11 and released July 12 after posting a $1,000 bond. The post also alleged she is facing a felony charge of interference with a sporting or entertainment event and said she later shared a video on Snapchat appearing to be in good spirits after her release.
What we don’t know
CBS News has not independently verified those claims, including the reported charge, bond amount or release information, and Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office has not publicly confirmed those details.
CBS News has also not independently verified what led to the encounter, and the sheriff’s office has not said what prompted deputies to take Jefferson into custody.
CBS News has requested Jefferson’s arrest report, booking information and any charging documents from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office. A request for comment has also been sent to Jefferson’s representatives.
Reality TV star’s legal troubles in South Florida amid World Cup festivities
Jefferson rose to national prominence as one of the breakout personalities on “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta” before later appearing on several Zeus Network reality series, where she has remained a frequent cast member.
This is not Jefferson’s first legal issue in South Florida. In 2024, she was arrested in Miami Beach on a battery charge following an incident outside LIV Nightclub. Court records from that case alleged she physically confronted another person before officers took her into custody.
Saturday’s arrest comes as Miami continues hosting FIFA World Cup matches that have drawn tens of thousands of fans from around the world. Despite the arrests and ejections, the sheriff’s office said the event proceeded safely and described the incidents as isolated.
This is a developing story. CBS News will update this article as additional information, including the exact circumstances surrounding Jefferson’s arrest and any charges, becomes available.
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