Max Verstappen took a ‘surprise’ F1 Miami GP sprint pole from Charles Leclerc, with Sergio Perez in third.
SQ1:
The first part in F1 Miami GP sprint qualifying on the medium tyres saw late improvements from host of drivers as the track improved to allow McLaren end up 1-2 where Lando Norris was quickest with a 1m27.939s lap ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri.
The Australian had a big Turn 1 moment when he had a contact with Stake F1 Team’s Valtteri Bottas, who turned into the corner as he was unaware of the approaching Piastri. The incident will be investigated after the session by the stewards.
There was another moment for Haas’ Kevin Magnussen when he came across another of Stake F1 Team car on his fast lap but it wasn’t noted. Behind the McLaren cars, it was Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, who was third despite a wall touch.
Even Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc touched that wall but both managed to continue on. The dropzone saw Williams’ Alexander Albon (1m12.858s) miss out by 0.072s but track limits left him 20th after he ran over the kerbs at Turn 14-15.
It was Alpine’s Pierre Gasly (1m29.185s) in 16th ahead of the Stake F1 Team pair of Zhou Guanyu (1m29.267s) and Bottas (1m29.360s) in 17th and 18th, as Williams’ Logan Sargeant (1m29.551s) was 19th who managed to out-qualify teammate for the first time.
SQ2:
The second part in F1 Miami GP sprint qualifying saw them continue with the medium tyres, as Norris maintained his top spot with a 1m27.597s lap ahead of Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in the Top 3, as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen went late.
He ran out of sequence alongside Visa Cash App RB’s Yuki Tsunoda for just the couple of laps. The final run saw little to no improvements as both the Mercedes cars were knocked out, where George Russell (1m28.343s) could only improve to 11th.
He was only 0.013s behind Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg in 10th, as Lewis Hamilton (1m28.371s) was 12th where he hit the wall at Turn 16 as did Visa Cash App RB’s Daniel Ricciardo. Alpine’s Esteban Ocon (1m28.873s) was 13th from Magnussen (1m28.377s).
Tsunoda (1m28.687s) rounded out in 15th but had his fast lap deleted for track limits. There was also a pitlane infringement noted by the stewards for Hamilton. The mechanics did not wear helmets when he arrived for a front wing adjustment.
SQ3:
Drivers waited for long to step out in the final part of F1 Miami GP sprint qualifying where everyone went for the one lap effort. Verstappen eventually took sprint pole with a 1m27.641s lap despite a correction needed on his quick lap.
Despite missing out in FP1, Leclerc was second with a 1m27.749s lap as he demoted Perez (1m27.876s) to third. Ricciardo surprised everyone in fourth with a 1m28.044s, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz (1m28.103s) in fifth after his lock-up on his quick lap.
Piastri (1m28.161s) was the first of McLaren in sixth ahead of the two Aston Martin cars of Lance Stroll (1m28.375s) and Alonso (1m28.419s), with Norris (1m28.472s) only ninth after his moment in the car, as Hulkenberg (1m28.476s) rounded the Top 10.
UPDATE: The FIA has taken no further action in Hamilton’s pitlane infringement case after finding that most teams do not use protective gear during qualifying sessions. Here: https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/decision-document/2024%20Miami%20Grand%20Prix%20-%20Decision%20-%20Car%2044%20-%20Pit%20lane%20infringement.pdf
Bottas, meanwhile, has been handed a 3-place grid penalty for his collision with Piastri where the stewards feel the fault lies with the driver and the team. Here: https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/decision-document/2024%20Miami%20Grand%20Prix%20-%20Infringement%20-%20Car%2077%20-%20Incident%20with%20Car%2081%20in%20SQ1.pdf
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