“McLaren” shows its teeth, Ricciardo surprises, Verstappen wins the Miami sprint qualification

Max Verstappen | Photo: “Red Bull”

Tonight, at the fifth stage of the Formula One (F-1) season, the sprint qualification took place in the US city of Miami, in which Red Bull pilot Max Verstappen won.

Throughout the qualification, McLaren pilots Oskar Piastri and Lando Norris, who won the previous stage’s sprint qualification in China, showed great speed. Although this time also the drivers of the British team showed his teeth “Red Bull”, the fastest was also the champion of the last three years, Verstappen, who completed the only lap in the third part of the qualification in one minute and 27.641 seconds.

The decisive lap was not so successful for the “McLaren” pilots – Piastri remained sixth, while Norris finished in ninth place. Second place was eventually won by Charles Leclair (Ferrari), 0.108 seconds behind Verstappen. Verstappen’s team-mate Sergio Perez took third, while the experienced Daniel Ricciardo (“RB”) unexpectedly finished fourth in his best race since returning to F-1. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), Lance Stroll, Fernando Alonso (both Aston Martin) and Nico Hilkenberg (Haas) were also in the top ten.

Unsuccessful sprint qualification was performed by both Mercedes drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, finishing only in 11th and 12th place. Esteban Ocon (Alpine), Kevin Magnussen (Haas) and Yuki Tsunoda (RB) did not overcome the second session. Meanwhile, Pierre Gasly (Alpine), both Sauber pilots Guanyu Zhou and Valtteri Bottas, as well as Williams representatives Logan Sargent and Alexander Albon retired after the first qualifying round.

In this order, the pilots will start in the sprint race scheduled for Saturday at 19:00 Latvian time. at At 23:00, qualifying will take place, at the same time as the main race on Sunday.

Miami Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying

Overall rating of the pilots

Constructors’ Cup