Max VerstappenDisclosure/Red Bull
Published 05/03/2024 23:09
United States – Whether in training or racing, Dutchman Max Verstappen continues to call the shots in Formula 1. Repeating his performance from free practice this Friday, the Red Bull driver set the best time in qualifying for the sprint race and will start in first position on the grid this Saturday.
He secured pole by clocking 1min27s641 and will have Ferrari’s Monegasque Charles Leclerc at his side on the front row. Sérgio Pérez took third place followed by Daniel Ricciardo in fourth and Oscar Piastri in fifth place.
Pole, however, was only secured at the end of training. In Q1 and Q2, the times were dominated by Lando Norris. At the end of the last phase of qualifying, however, the McLaren driver was unable to repeat his good performance and will only start in ninth position.
Lewis Hamilton also disappointed. He failed to qualify for a place in the top ten and only starts in 12th place. George Russel, from Mercedes, also failed to be among the fastest and was one position ahead of the seven-time champion.
Q1 ended with the two McLaren drivers setting the best time at the end of the timings. Lando Norris finished first, followed by his teammate Oscar Piastri.
Spaniard Fernando Alonso, who was at risk of not progressing to Q2, managed to recover on the last lap with his Aston Martin and finished this first stage in third place.
Alexander Albon, Logan Sargeant, Valtteri Bottas, Guanyu Zhou and Pierre Gasly finished in the bottom five positions and were at the back of the grid for the sprint race.
In Q2, Lando Norris continued to accelerate hard and, with a time of around 1min27, maintained the best time among the drivers. The surprises were due to the Mercedes eliminations.
George Russell finished 11th and topped the list of eliminations. Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton also said goodbye to the chance to fight for the top ten positions, appearing in twelfth place. Esteban Ocon, Kevin Magnussen and Yuki Tsunoda completed the list.
Check out the starting grid for the Formula 1 Miami sprint race:
1st – Max Verstappen (HOL/Red Bull)
2nd – Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari)
3rd – Sergio Pérez (MEX/Red Bull)
4th – Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/RB)
5th – Carlos Sainz Jr. (ESP/Ferrari)
6th – Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren)
7th – Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin)
8th – Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin)
9th – Lando Norris (ING/McLaren)
10th – Nico Hülkenberg (ALE/Haas)
11th – George Russell (ING/Mercedes)
12th – Lewis Hamilton (ING/Mercedes)
13th – Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine)
14th – Kevin Magnussen (DIN/Haas)
15th – Yuki Tsunoda (JAP/RB)
16th – Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine)
17th – Guanyu Zhou (CHN/Kick Sauber)
18th – Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Kick Sauber)
19th – Logan Sargeant (USA/Williams)
20th – Alexander Albon (TAI/Williams)
