With summaryMax Verstappen starts the sprint race of the Miami Grand Prix from the front starting spot. The world champion did not drive a flawless lap in the third session of sprint qualifying, but it was good enough to keep the rest of the field behind him. That also surprised the Dutchman himself.
The three-time world champion suspected that his time would not be enough for the sprint pole. A surprised Verstappen could be heard over the on-board radio: “LOL. What happened to the others? This round was horrible. Anyway, I’m happy to add pole!”
Verstappen also said in the interview afterwards that he never expected his lap to result in the fastest time. “It felt really terrible. Maybe in SQ3 it was just incredibly difficult to get the tires going.”
Verstappen didn’t feel great in the second qualifying part either. Then he set the fourth fastest time on mediums. “I didn’t really improve on the soft tires [in SQ3]. Somehow we came first. Of course I’m happy with that, but driving didn’t feel pleasant for some reason. During practice it felt really good, I felt very comfortable and confident, but not so during qualifying.”
Verstappen was not concerned
Verstappen was not concerned at the start of the sprint qualifying. In the second session he only started his attempt when there were just over two minutes left on the clock. He was confident that one fast lap would be enough to join the top ten. And it was. He didn’t have to impress, wasn’t the fastest, but certainly didn’t get into trouble either.
It underlined the huge difference between him and at least one of the teams seen as a major rival to Red Bull. Because both Mercedes drivers did not reach Q3 of the sprint qualifying. George Russell did not get further than the eleventh fastest time, while Lewis Hamilton – partly because he hit the wall on his last lap – finished twelfth. Verstappen probably has nothing to fear from that team in the sprint race in Miami.
(Text continues below the video)
The pressure initially comes from Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque was close to a surprise in Miami, but was a tenth of a second slower than Verstappen in the third session. The fact that he came so close to the Dutchman was largely due to the perilous moment Verstappen had at the end of his fast lap. He seemed to lose control of his Red Bull for a moment, could barely keep his car under control and was still the fastest.
Behind Verstappen and Leclerc, Sergio Pérez finished third and Visa Cash App driver Daniel Ricciardo surprisingly set the fourth fastest time.
The sprint race of the Miami GP is on Saturday from 6 p.m. (Dutch time). Qualifying for Sunday’s Grand Prix will then start at 10 p.m. It is the third time that a Formula 1 race takes place in Miami. For the first time, a sprint race will be held at the circuit in Florida.
Listen to Verstappen’s on-board radio here
Result sprint qualification Miami:
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23:15
Yesterday
Verstappen the fastest!
No, no one can match Verstappen’s time and so the sprint pole goes to our compatriot! ,,Lol, what did the rest do?”, says Verstappen in surprise.
Ricciardo is the surprising number four, behind Verstappen, Leclerc and Pérez.
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23:14
Yesterday
Perez: 1:27.8
Verstappen: 1.27.6
What does everyone else do?
23:11
Yesterday
The times will all come in at the same time. The McLarens and Ferraris dare to wait the longest. They are just rolling out of the pits.
23:10
Yesterday
Four more minutes
It’s the calm before the storm. Everyone will get one lap on softs to have a shot at the sprint pole.
23:05
Yesterday
Start SQ3
In just over 8 minutes we will know who will start from pole in tomorrow’s sprint race.
11:00 PM
Yesterday
End of SQ2
A dramatic Friday for Mercedes. Both drivers from the German racing stable do not make it.
11.Russell
12. Hamilton
13. Ocon
14. Magnussen
15.Tsunoda
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22:59
Yesterday
The Mercedes seem to be going to die this way. Or will Russell and Hamilton still find time?
22:59
Yesterday
Verstappen doesn’t have a great lap, but it is enough to advance to SQ3. He concedes four tenths to Norris, who is in the pit box and is fine with it this way.
22:56
Yesterday
Danger zone with three minutes to go
11. Hamilton
12. Ocon
13. Magnussen
14. Verstappen
15.Tsunoda
22:55
Yesterday
Here comes Verstappen
Our compatriot waited a while and is now turning onto the asphalt. So he will probably only get one lap to set a lap.
22:53
Yesterday
Perez opens the ball with a 1:27.8, Verstappen is still inside. Is that of your own free will?
Meanwhile, Norris takes over the fastest time from Perez with two purple sectors: 1.27.6.
22:53
Yesterday
Hamilton complains about the on-board radio. He has no idea why there is no pace at all in his W15. Will the seven-time world champion reach the last ten? It will be borderline.
22:51
Yesterday
We’re going to sit down for a while, because the first times are going to trickle in.
22:49
Yesterday
Start SQ2
The drivers have ten minutes, once again they are obliged to leave their pit box on mediums. Charles Leclerc is also there, despite missing almost all of training after a spin.
22:44
Yesterday
End SQ1
While Haas driver Magnussen achieved a surprising fourth time, teammate Hulkenberg was lucky with a fifteenth fastest time. He is sure of SQ2.
This does not apply to Gasly, Zhou, Bottas, Sargeant and Albon. We’ll see them again tomorrow.
We see the two McLarens in P1 and P2, with Verstappen in fourth place. Will the racing team from Woking make a bid for the sprint pole?
10:40 PM
Yesterday
Who is in the danger zone?
16. Ricciardo
17. Bottas
18. Sargeant
19. Hulkenberg
20. Albon
The above drivers will have to improve their time to join the top fifteen. They have about three minutes left.
22:36
Yesterday
Verstappen is currently in P1 with a 1:28.6. Piastri closes at less than half a tenth, with Pérez close behind.
Sainz’s first lap was a bit disappointing. The Ferrari driver will undoubtedly have a good time.
22:35
Yesterday
The fastest time in the first free practice was Verstappen’s 1:28.5. The times will get faster and faster this qualifying. Not only because the engine is set up more aggressively, but also because there is more rubber on the track with each lap. So more grip.
22:33
Yesterday
Sprint qualifying takes a little less time than regular qualifying, so it is important for all drivers not to wait too long and get a banker rag to set a time that you can fall back on if, for example, you make a slip in the last lap.
10:30 PM
Yesterday
Start SQ1
The clock is running. In about 12 minutes we will say goodbye to the five slowest drivers. Who will be in the last fifteen and for whom are the grapes sour and will points in the sprint race tomorrow be virtually impossible?
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Tags: Max Verstappen surprised sprint pole Miami Lap terrible happened rest formula
