Max Verstappen took pole position for the Miami Grand Prix – a star-studded event which it is rumoured Donald Trump will attend on Sunday.

If he does show up, the former president can hardly expect to see a shock result, with Verstappen overwhelming favourite to claim his fifth win in six races this season.

This was sixth pole out of six, and seventh across this campaign and last, and came little more than four hours after he cantered to victory in the sprint at the Hard Rock Stadium.

In qualifying under a blazing sun, Verstappen beat Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc into second place by 0.141sec. Carlos Sainz, in the second red car, was third best.

As for Trump, it is still unconfirmed whether he will be in town. Taylor Swift is also claimed to be due here, though her name was not included on the official list of showbiz and sports stars slated for an appearance in Florida.

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Max Verstappen took pole position for the Miami Grand Prix during Saturday’s qualifying

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Verstappen beat Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc into second place by 0.141sec in the Sunshine State

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The Dutch driver is the overwhelming favourite to claim his fifth win in six races this season

Lewis Hamilton, only eighth fastest, was nine-tenths off the pace – as Mercedes’ upgrade looked anything but fitting that description.

The seven-time world champion again lost out to his team-mate George Russell, who qualified a place ahead of him. Four-hundredths separated the two Silver Arrows.

It is 5-1 to Russell in qualifying over his more established team-mate in 2024.

Lando Norris was fifth quickest for McLaren, a place behind Red Bull’s No 2, Sergio Perez.

It was a dejecting day for Fernando Alonso, the Aston Martin man, who suffered a puncture in the sprint, accusing Hamilton of driving through the first corner like a ‘bull’ out of control and causing a collision. The Spaniard finished that race bottom of the pole and was then eliminated from qualifying in Q1. He will start the 57-lap main event from 15th on the grid.

Disappointment for local boy Logan Sargeant. The Williams man was born down the highway in Fort Lauderdale, but could only manage 17th best, though nobody expected too much more.

Verstappen, who leads the championship by 27 points, said: ‘I find it difficult to be consistent here over one lap.

‘It was about finding that balance today and I think we did OK. It was not the most enjoyable lap because of how slippery it is, so the confidence is not there, but I am on pole so I am happy.’