Formula 1 is in Miami for the second Sprint weekend of the season, one that started terribly for the blue tinted Ferrari and Lando Norris’ McLaren.
Leclerc spun at the start of FP1 causing a red flag to halt the session, while Norris suffered in steering.
But it’s certainly Mercedes who struggled the most on Friday’s Sprint Qualifying, surprisingly missing out on Q3 with both cars.
A brilliant Max Verstappen who took the pole position and an impressive Daniel Ricciardo who secured P4, continuing on a good streak that started last time out in China.
But let’s take a closer look at how things went down around the streets of Miami this Sprint Shootout.
Q1
It’s no one other than Max Verstappen setting the pace as cars start to come out for the first timed laps.
Charles Leclerc goes on the chase for a slipstream that is worth a third time behind Oscar Piastri, meanwhile stewards notice Valtteri Bottas – out on a cool down lap – brushing on top of Piastri’s McLaren that was coming up behind.
Last minutes approaching and it’s Daniel Ricciardo hanging on the line along with Bottas and his teammate Zhou, Nico Hulkenberg also seems a candidate for a place in the bottom five, but he ultimately makes it through with his Haas.
Turn 16 causing quite some problems for Fernando Alonso and Pierre Gasly, as it costs the latter a place in Q2.
The Williams of Logan Sargeant sits at the bottom of the grid, while his teammate Alex Albon gets his time deleted after cutting through one of the chicanes of the Miami International Autodrome.
Eliminated in Q1: Albon, Gasly, Zhou, Bottas, Sargeant
Q2
Unusual podium in the opening laps with Kevin Magnussen and Fernando Alonso who are the firsts to set the pace, Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez tagging behind.
As tries go on the McLarens make a brief appearance in the top positions with Lando Norris leading the way ahead of Perez and Leclerc.
Not a bad session for Daniel Ricciardo as well, who is in P4 when he opens the radio to reassure his RB has no damage after a brush with the wall at the infamous Turn 16.
Only two minutes to go with both Mercedeses on the edge of elimination as Lewis Hamilton goes on an out lap, while Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda yet to set a time.
Not a fortunate attempt for the Japanese, with his lap being not even good enough to lift him off the bottom place, while the world champion goes up in 4th place – 0.404s off Leclerc – on what will be his only attempt for this Q2.
The session ends with Hamilton announcing on the radio “I hit the wall” – a small brush caused by oversteer – and Toto Wolff holding his head while both him and George Russell don’t make it out of Q2.
It’s Lando Norris keeping P1 ahead of Perez and Leclerc, with Hulkenberg, Stroll, Sainz, Alonso and Piastri completing the top ten along with Ricciardo in P5.
Eliminated in Q2: Russell, Hamilton, Ocon, Magnussen, Tsunoda
Work to do for the Silver Arrows tomorrow 😮💨#F1Sprint #MiamiGP pic.twitter.com/MjS3IRZiHL
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 3, 2024
Q3
A rather brief session as single seaters decide to wait out for the last 3 minutes of this closing session to go out on the asphalt: it will be a one shot qualifying shootout for every single car.
Red Bull leads the way as everyone is out to find the perfect tyre temperature and enough grip to secure a good position on tomorrow’s starting grid.
A purple first and second sector for Verstappen despite his Red Bull suffering some visible oversteer in the middle of the chicane. The Ferraris are out to try and catch his best time, but ultimately it’s the Dutchman keeping the pole position ahead of Leclerc.
Only 9th place for Lando Norris as McLaren seems to struggle on the softest compound and no better luck is awaiting his teammate Oscar Piastri, who is the last one to close the lap only to finish the session in P6.
