Qualifying for the Miami Grand Prix saw Lando Norris threaten Verstappen, after Norris won the sprint race. Antonelli responded superbly to the sprint race.
Antonelli’s Strong Response
Antonelli went into the 1:27s, three tenths faster than Leclerc, Verstappen and Norris. Antonelli knocked the Ferraris off the top and Russell split them, getting close to his teammate.
After a shabby sprint race, Antonelli was back to his qualifying best, going 1:28.289. This was faster still, now 0.188 faster than the best of Hamilton and Russell. Antonelli on new tyres went fastest, a second faster than Russell.
Norris and Piastri’s Performance
Piastri came through, but Norris immediately went half a second quicker. Piastri is up to fourth, as Norris eases up to seventh, away from danger. Norris is talking about a loss of power at turn 16; McLaren are blaming wind.
McLaren and their tyre preservation schemes are making things a little nervy, but Norris at least comes in ninth. Piastri was having some difficulties, and Oscar Piastri cannot better 11th.
Ted Kravitz’s verdict is that McLaren’s success yesterday left them happy and their rivals were less happy, didn’t settle and have found some more. Zak Brown says it was not wind, but a boost problem, that was hurting Norris. He sounds confident that the Briton and Piastri can both do better in Q3, to threaten Verstappen’s pole.
Q1 Drama and Tyre Strategies
A weird old Q1 saw leading teams conserving tyres on some drivers, making all comparisons difficult. Red Bulls are out, Max Verstappen dancing around to get the tyres up to speed.
Verstappen puts in a 1:28.931, a second better than Hülkenberg. Leclerc goes second, knocking down Verstappen. Piastri, though, is 16th, but he didn’t use any new tyres and gets through by two 10ths.
- Out go Hülkenberg, Lawson, Bearman, Sainz and Ocon.
- Colapinto makes Q3 for the first time this season.
Other Qualifying Events
Ouch, there were more flames for Audi, this time Bortoleto. Bortoleto did make it out, but his time will not trouble the top 16. Q2 should be less opaque but will be delayed, as the marshals recover Bortoleto’s car.
All 10 have new tyres. Verstappen pulls it out, and Leclerc goes third. Russell up to 7th.
It’s down to wind speed and direction, says Brundle. It remains to be seen how reflective of tomorrow’s race any of this will be, if it’s the vagaries of the weather that are affecting the leading cars’ performances.