F1 Miami Grand Prix LIVE: Sprint qualifying start time and practice results
F1 live updates from day one of the Miami Grand Prix and sprint qualifying in Florida
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Formula 1 returns to the United States this weekend as the street circuit around the Hard Rock Stadium hosts the Miami Grand Prix for the third time - and the second of six sprint weekends in 2024.
Max Verstappen was in dominant form last time out in China, winning both the sprint race and grand prix in Shanghai, and leads the world championship despite the current unrest at Red Bull which has led to Adrian Newey’s shock departure from the team this week, with Ferrari favourites to sign the star designer.
Sergio Perez is 25 points behind his team-mate in the standings, with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz next-best on the list. Lando Norris finished second in Shanghai as he continues to target a first win in F1, while Lewis Hamilton will be striving for more following his worst ever start to a season.
Miami was selected as one of six venues to host a sprint weekend by F1 this year. Verstappen has won the first two editions of the race, which first appeared on the calendar in 2022.
Follow latest updates from the Miami Grand Prix with The Independent
More from Horner:
“Adrian is a formidable engineer, scratching for the last bit of engineering. But most of all I’ll miss the camaraderie, highs and lows over those 18 years.
“We’ve had to think about this moment for some time, it was going to come at some point. The structure we have in place is well set to take up the baton and continue to produce fantastic cars.
“He’s going to take some time out first. He’s 65 years of age and earned that right to take some time out. If he decides that he wants to have another run at Formula 1, who knows?
“No, absolutely not. It’s been coming for some time. It’s been on his mind, what better time to go then with the run of form we’ve had. He’s stepping aside from Formula 1 while we’re right at the top of our game. Sadness we see him part but the show goes on.”
Christian Horner, speaking to Sky Sports about Adrian Newey’s departure:
“Adrian has had such a wonderful career, hard at it the last 30 years.
“He’s reached a point where the team is in great shape, he feels now is the right time to step away and take some time out. He’ll still be working on the RB17 track car. It was the right time for him to take a break.”
F1 Miami Grand Prix: FP1 RESULTS!
Here is the full classification in that one and only practice session:
F1 Miami Grand Prix practice result!
Max Verstappen goes quickest in the end - never in doubt!
The championship leader with a 1:28:595, 0.105 secs quicker than Oscar Piastri in second.
Carlos Sainz ended up third fastest - 0.116 secs off Verstappen - with Russell in fourth and Lance Stroll in fifth.
6-10: Perez, Hamilton, Tsunoda, Ocon, Gasly
Lando Norris a notable name all the way down in 16th, though he has had a power steering issue.
F1 Miami Grand Prix: George Russell goes P1!
George Russell goes top, 0.069 secs ahead of Carlos Sainz with Lewis Hamilton in third - a tenth off his team-mate.
As for Verstappen: “I have no grip. It’s like driving on egg shells.”
Five minutes to go.
F1 Miami Grand Prix: Pierre Gasly goes P1!
The Alpine driver has the softs on now... and many are following suit as the clock ticks down.
F1 Miami Grand Prix: Carlos Sainz at the top of the timesheet with 10 to go!
While his Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc is out of the session, Carlos Sainz is top of the leaderboard with a 1:29:331, 0.164 secs quicker than Lando Norris in second.
Sergio Perez is third with Oscar Piastri in fourth and Lewis Hamilton fifth - all within half-a-second of Sainz.
6-10: Russell, Zhou, Ocon, Alonso, Tsunoda
Max Verstappen in the pits, still down in P16. Will he get another flying lap in?
Max Verstappen a bit worried over team radio:
“I’m front locking too quickly at the peak!”
Again, issues at the end of the very long back straight... he’s down in P16 on the leaderbaord with 20 minutes or so to go...
F1 Miami Grand Prix: Leaderboard after 30 minutes!
Sergio Perez top of the standings early on here with a 1:29:632, 0.136 seconds ahead of George Russell.
3-10: Hamilton, Ocon, Piastri, Tsunoda, Alonso, Norris, Stroll, Bottas
Max Verstappen with a bit of a lock up at the end of the long back straight in sector three... he’s currently in P13.
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