The Miami Grand Prix weekend kicked off with a scorching hot practice session, with track temperatures soaring to a staggering 51°C. As expected, the drivers struggled to find grip on the newly resurfaced Miami International Autodrome.

George Russell Tops FP1 In Miami Ahead Of Hamilton And Leclerc

As the drivers headed out on the freshly resurfaced circuit, Max Verstappen, driving the new fan-designed livery of the RB19, set the early pace on the hard tyre, followed by Leclerc and Hamilton. However, the Mercedes driver, George Russell, returned to the pit lane early on after complaining of vibrations on his steering wheel. His mechanics had to change the steering rack on his W14, delaying his track time.

As the session progressed, the drivers switched to the softer rubber, with Verstappen going fastest with a time of 1m 31.054s. In his Haas VF-23, Hulkenberg was second fastest until he crashed into the barrier at Turn 3, resulting in a red flag. After the track was cleared, Russell and Hamilton set the fastest times on the soft tyre, with Russell crossing the line to set a time of 1m 30.125s. Leclerc was third quickest, followed by Verstappen in fourth and Carlos Sainz in fifth.

Verstappen Tops FP2 In Miami As Leclerc Crashes

In the second practice session, Verstappen set the fastest time of 1m 27.930s, ahead of both Ferraris of Sainz and Leclerc. However, the reigning champion complained of headrest issues throughout the session. Leclerc, who finished third, brought out the only red flag of the session when he lost control of his Ferrari, sending it front-first into the barriers at Turn 7. Sergio Perez finished fourth, ahead of Fernando Alonso in fifth.

Lando Norris led the session briefly when soft-tyred running began but fell to sixth place, followed by Hamilton in seventh. Lance Stroll took eighth place for Aston Martin, followed by Esteban Ocon in ninth and Alex Albon in tenth. Despite a promising start in FP1 (topping FP1), Russell struggled to keep pace with Red Bull and Ferrari in FP2, as he could only manage 15th place in FP2. This could be worrying news for Mercedes fans, who have seen their team struggle to keep pace with Red Bull this season.

What To Expect In The Qualifying

The Miami Grand Prix track is known for its long straights and tight turns, making it challenging for drivers to find the perfect balance between speed and control. Based on the practice sessions, it seems that Red Bull and Ferrari have made significant progress since the last race in Baku. Verstappen and the Ferrari duo of Sainz and Leclerc showed impressive pace and consistency, setting the stage for an exciting qualifying session.

However, the Mercedes duo of Hamilton and Russell and Aston Martin’s Alonso will not go down without a fight. With the resurfaced track posing a new challenge for the drivers, who will come out on top in the qualifying session remains to be seen. F1 fans can expect a thrilling race on Sunday as the drivers battle it out for supremacy in Miami.

My Predictions

In my prediction for the qualifying session, I see Max Verstappen clinching the pole position, with a strong challenge expected from Charles Leclerc, who will start alongside Max from the first row. The second row is likely to be occupied by Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz, both of whom have shown impressive pace. The fight for the third row will be closely contested between the two Mercedes and Aston Martins, with all four drivers having the potential to secure a top-six starting position.

It will be interesting to see how the teams strategize and manage their tires during the qualifying session, as the starting grid for the race could play a huge role in their quest for a race win tomorrow. Tune in tonight at 01:30 am for Qualifying.