Max Verstappen took F1 Miami GP pole despite no improvements ahead of the Ferrari pair of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.
Q1:
The first part in F1 Miami GP qualifying saw hectic running with Red Bull ending up 1-2 with Max Verstappen (1m27.689s) ahead of Sergio Perez, as McLaren’s Lando Norris rounded the Top 3 where traffic ruined the laps of several drivers.
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso just managed to sneak into Q2 after finishing 15th. Stake F1 Team’s Valtteri Bottas was knocked out in 16th with a 1m28.463s lap ahead of Williams’ Logan Sargeant (1m28.487s) and Visa Cash App RB’s Daniel Ricciardo (1m28.617s).
The Australian had a moment at Turn 17 where Haas’ Kevin Magnussen (1m28.619s) faced huge traffic to end up only 19th with Stake F1 Team’s Zhou Guanyu (1m28.824s) in 20th. where replays showed the Chinese driver having a wheel-to-wheel with Oscar Piastri.
Q2:
The second part in F1 Miami GP qualifying saw Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc on top with a 1m27.533s lap ahead of Verstappen and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton but the major casualties to drop out were the two Aston Martin cars amid a good qualifying pace they have had.
Lance Stroll was 11th with a 1m28.222s lap which was just 0.022s aloof from Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg in 10th. The Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly (1m28.324s) and Esteban Ocon (1m28.371s) slotted in 12th and 13th, with Williams’ Alexander Albon in 14th.
He set a 1m28.413s lap despite the moment he had on his first running. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso (1m28.427s) had a qualifying to forget in 15th after not feeling well with the balance, struggling all-through the session.
Q3:
The final part in F1 Miami GP qualifying saw Verstappen set early pole lap of 1m27.241s lap with Leclerc slotting in second after his 1m27.382s lap ahead of teammate Carlos Sainz (1m27.455s), Piastri and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez in the Top 5.
Interestingly, Norris used the medium tyre for his first run and was still sixth in the order. An impeding moment from Sainz was slated as no further investigation at Turn 17 against Hulkenberg. The final run saw little improvements from the drivers.
Verstappen was one of them but his first lap was enough for F1 Miami GP pole ahead of the Ferrari pair of Leclerc and Sainz with no improvements on their end too. Perez (1m27.460s) made one but was only fourth ahead of Norris (1m27.594s).
He pipped teammate Piastri (1m27.675s) as the Mercedes pair of George Russell (1m28.067s) and Lewis Hamilton (1m28.107s) made it in the Top 10 after low-key sprint qualifying. The duo set their times on the medium tyres to save a set of soft.
The Top 10 was rounded out by Hulkenberg (1m28.146ss) and Visa Cash App RB’s Yuki Tsunoda (1m28.192s).
UPDATE: The FIA warned Guanyu for not obeying to Race Directors’ note being in the fastlane and overtaking. Here: https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/decision-document/2024%20Miami%20Grand%20Prix%20-%20Infringement%20-%20Car%2024%20-%20Pit%20lane%20infringement.pdf
He was also reprimanded for crossing white line at the pit exit: https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/decision-document/2024%20Miami%20Grand%20Prix%20-%20Decision%20-%20Car%2024%20-%20Crossing%20the%20line%20at%20Pit%20Exit.pdf
Additionally, there was no further action for Gasly in the pitlane infringement. Here: https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/decision-document/2024%20Miami%20Grand%20Prix%20-%20Decision%20-%20Car%2010%20-%20Alleged%20pit%20lane%20infringement.pdf
Here’s how F1 Miami GP sprint panned out
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