Miami GP - Sprint Shootout

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Crypto.com Miami GP

Sprint Shootout

May 3, 2024

Verstappen secured pole position in front of Leclerc for the Miami GP sprint race.

In Miami, Max Verstappen claimed the top spot in qualifying for the sprint race at the Miami Grand Prix scheduled for Saturday, with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc following closely in second place on the grid.

On Saturday morning, the 19-lap sprint race will occur before the complete qualifying session for the grand prix on Sunday.

Upon being informed that he secured pole position, Verstappen remarked: "LOL, what happened to the others? That was terrible but we'll take it."

Having won the sprint race in Shanghai two weeks ago, Verstappen is poised to further increase his championship lead during Saturday's sprint, despite acknowledging that his lap was not flawless.

Although the Red Bull driver went sideways over the kerbs at Turn 15's chicane, he still managed to secure pole position, edging out Leclerc by 0.108 seconds.

Lando Norris of McLaren posted the fastest time during Friday's qualifying, but did so in the second part of the session, SQ2, to secure a spot in the top ten. However, a mistake at Turn 11 in SQ3 resulted in him being 0.9s slower than his SQ2 effort, relegating him to ninth place on the sprint's starting grid.

Verstappen's Red Bull teammate, Sergio Perez, claimed the third fastest time, with RB's Daniel Ricciardo impressing by finishing just 0.4s behind Verstappen.

"Awesome, awesome," Ricciardo communicated via the team radio. "That's good, we belong towards the front so that's for everyone."

Ferrari's Carlos Sainz secured the fifth position, with McLaren's Oscar Piastri and the Aston Martins of Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso following closely in seventh and eighth places.

Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg, who recently joined Sauber for the 2025 season, maintained his impressive performance by finishing in tenth place.

Mercedes faced disappointment as both their drivers failed to advance to SQ3, with George Russell missing out by just 0.013s and Lewis Hamilton by 0.041s after a slight contact with the wall at Turn 16. The team's elimination in SQ2 occurred following the introduction of a highly anticipated upgraded floor for this race weekend.

Esteban Ocon will start in 13th place, sandwiched between the two Mercedes cars and ahead of Haas' Kevin Magnussen in 14th. Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda qualified 15th after having his best lap time in SQ2 invalidated for exceeding track limits at Turn Five.

Pierre Gasly will occupy the 16th spot on the grid for the sprint race, leading the two Sauber drivers Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas.

Logan Sargeant, the sole American in the F1 grid, qualified in 19th place ahead of his Williams teammate Alex Albon, who initially set a time fast enough for 16th but had it annulled for exceeding track limits at Turn 15.

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Miami GP 2024 F1 Sprint shootout Result

1. Max Verstappen, Red Bull (1:27.641)

2. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari (1:27.749)

3. Sergio Pérez, Red Bull (1:27.876)

4. Daniel Ricciardo, RB (1:28.044)

5. Carlos Sainz, Ferrari (1:28.103)

6. Oscar Piastri, McLaren (1:28.161)

7. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin (1:28.375)

8. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin (1:28.419)

9. Lando Norris, McLaren (1:28.472)

10. Nico Hülkenberg, Haas (1:28.476)

11. George Russell, Mercedes (1:28.343)

12. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes (1:28.371)

13. Esteban Ocon, Alpine (1:28.379)

14. Kevin Magnussen, Haas (1:28.614)

15. Yuki Tsunoda, RB (1:28.687)

16. Pierre Gasly, Alpine (1:29.185)

17. Zhou Guanyu, Sauber (1:29.267)

18. Valtteri Bottas, Sauber (1:29.360)

19. Logan Sargeant, Williams (1:29.551)

20. Alexander Albon, Williams (1:29.858)