Formula 1’s qualifying sessions in Miami were favorable for Sergio Perez. The biggest bangs of the qualifying sessions were Lewis Hamilton remaining in 13th place and Charles Leclerc’s exit in the last section.
The hot qualifying sessions of the Formula 1 race in Miami were by Sergio Perez party. Perez scored his second pole position of the season when he beat the runner-up Fernando Alonso by a good three tenths. Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc a run out secured Perez’s pole position before time ran out in the final section.
– This has been my worst weekend until qualifying. Everything has seemed difficult, a relieved Perez said in an interview after qualifying.
Leclerc drove off the track in the final section of qualifying. This brought a dramatic twist to the final decisions, as the reigning world champion, for example Max Verstappen was left without a successful fast lap as the session ended with red flags.
Verstappen, who was already really fast in Saturday’s practice, set the fastest lap time of the day in the second section, which in the end was a thin consolation. Another Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz occupied the third starting square.
Valtteri Bottas showed clearly better speed after the beginning of the slow season. The Finnish driver pushed himself into the last section of the qualifying sessions and finally placed 10th. Bottas also missed a fast lap in the final section due to Leclerc’s exit.
One of the biggest surprises was Haas, who finished fourth Kevin Magnussen. The fourth place is Magnussen’s career best finish in qualifying.
A disaster for Lewis Hamilton
The biggest failure of the surprise time trials was Lewis Hamiltonwho was only in 13th place. The seven-time world champion also lost to his teammate To George Russell, who finished sixth. This season, Hamilton has beaten his teammate only in the qualifying sessions in Baku.
After his lap, Hamilton said on the team radio that he left the pits for his fast lap far too late in the second section of qualifying. The last time Hamilton was left out of the last section, i.e. the 10 fastest drivers, was last year in the qualifying sessions at Imola.
Hamilton, who is fourth in the World Championship points, will have a challenging job in Sunday’s race, as overtaking on the dirty street track in Miami has been said to be really challenging.
In the qualifying sessions in Miami, the first section already offered surprises, for example both McLaren drivers Lando Norris mixed Oscar Piastri were left out of the 15 fastest drivers. In addition, Alonso’s teammate, who is eighth in the World Championship Lance Stroll was only in 18th place.
Miami time trials
1. Sergio Perez Red Bull 1.26.841
2. Fernando Alonso Aston Martin + 0.361
3. Carlos Sainz Jr. Ferrari + 0.508
4. Kevin Magnussen Haas + 0.926
5. Pierre Gasly BWT Alpine + 0.945
6. George Russell Mercedes + 1,020
7. Charles Leclerc Ferrari Lando Norris McLaren + 1.094
8. Esteban Ocon’s BWT Alpine
9. Max Verstappen’s Red Bull
10. Valtteri Bottas Alfa Romeo
11. Alexander Albon Williams
12. Nico Hulkenberg Haas
13. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
14. Guanyu Zhou Alfa Romeo
15. Nyck de Vries AlphaTauri
16. Lando Norris McLaren
17. Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri
18. Lance Stroll Aston Martin
19. Oscar Piastri McLaren
20. Logan Sargeant Williams