Image: from CL16 inside X @CL16_inside
By Open Chronicle with Agencies
Charles Leclerc set the pace in the only free practice session ahead of the Sprint weekend at the Miami Grand Prix, delivering a strong statement for Scuderia Ferrari as the team continued its competitive form.
The session, extended to 90 minutes due to the Sprint format, proved crucial for teams to validate upgrades and prepare for qualifying. From the outset, the track was busy, with nearly the entire grid heading out early to maximize limited track time.
Ferrari, Red Bull Racing, and McLaren were among the most active, focusing on long runs with hard tyres before shifting to performance simulations. Leclerc quickly emerged as a consistent frontrunner, showing strong pace both in early stints and later qualifying simulations.
Max Verstappen finished second, 0.3 seconds behind the Ferrari driver, despite reporting ongoing issues with gear shifts during the session. Oscar Piastri secured third place for McLaren, confirming the team’s solid form.
Lewis Hamilton narrowly missed out on the top three in fourth, while Kimi Antonelli briefly led the session earlier on before ending fifth. George Russell followed closely in sixth, as Mercedes showed promise but ultimately lost ground in the decisive final minutes.
The closing stages saw teams switch to soft tyres for qualifying simulations, where lap times dropped rapidly. Leclerc’s benchmark remained unbeaten, reinforcing Ferrari’s advantage heading into the competitive sessions.
Lando Norris had the potential to challenge for the top spot but saw his fastest lap compromised by traffic, including an incident involving Alexander Albon. The McLaren driver also made a minor mistake, ending his chances of improving further.
In the midfield battle, Pierre Gasly impressed with an eighth-place finish, while drivers such as Franco Colapinto and Oliver Bearman showed competitive pace at various points.
Brazilian rookie Gabriel Bortoleto endured a mixed session. After an early top-ten appearance, he dropped down the order amid grip issues and minor mistakes. Despite improving late on, he finished outside the top ten, highlighting ongoing challenges for the Audi F1 Team in extracting one-lap performance.
Further down the field, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll struggled to make an impact for Aston Martin, while Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas remained towards the back.
With just one practice session completed, teams now face a tight turnaround as they head into Sprint qualifying, where early performance indications suggest Ferrari holds a slight edge over Red Bull and McLaren.
1) Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), 1’29.310
2) Max Verstappen (Red Bull/Red Bull Ford), 1’29.607
3) Oscar Piastri (McLaren/Mercedes), 1’29.758
4) Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), 1’29.777
5) Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), 1’30.079
6) George Russell (Mercedes), 1’30.100
7) Lando Norris (McLaren/Mercedes), 1’30.208
8) Pierre Gasly (Alpine/Mercedes), 1’30.587
9) Isack Hadjar (Red Bull/Red Bull Ford), 1’30.873
10) Carlos Sainz (Williams/Mercedes), 1’30.930
11) Franco Colapinto (Alpine/Mercedes), 1’31.015
12) Alexander Albon (Williams/Mercedes), 1’31.024
13) Oliver Bearman (Haas/Ferrari), 1’31.091
14) Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi), 1’31.111
15) Nico Hülkenberg (Audi), 1’31.595
16) Esteban Ocon (Haas/Ferrari), 1’31.635
17) Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls/Red Bull Ford), 1’31.648
18) Sergio Pérez (Cadillac/Ferrari), 1’32.047
19) Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin/Honda), 1’32.593
20) Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac/Ferrari), 1’32.762
21) Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls/Red Bull Ford), 1’32.862
22) Lance Stroll (Aston Martin/Honda), 1’32.959