© Getty Images2024 Miami Grand Prix - Friday ReportMax Saves Best Until Last In Sprint Quali.
AfternotbeingattheirdominantbestintheearlysessionsoftheSprintQualifying,MaxandChecoputinastellarperformanceontheoverheatingsofttyresinSQ3tostarttomorrow’sSprintRaceinP1andP3respectively.CharlesLeclercsplittheBullstotakeP2.
Max
Checo
In the first session of the weekend, Max finished top with a time of 1:28.595, after he managed to control the temperatures in his tyre, whilst Checo had to settle for P6 but was just 0.273s behind his teammate.
They began the session on the medium tyres, which for the Miami Grand Prix will be the C3, right in the middle of Pirelli’s F-Zero range. Checo put in two flying laps on the yellow-walled tyres, whilst Max only put in one. They then used that same rubber for some race-simulation laps and with track temperatures reaching a blistering 53 degrees Celsius in Miami, race-simulation laps were something that will prove to be useful as the weekend continues.
For the final 10 minutes of FP1, both drivers slapped on the C4 soft tyre for a qualifying run. Max had to abort his first run as the tyres were far too hot and, after two cool-down laps, he went again setting his quickest time of the session. Checo put in one push lap, which was a time of 1:28.868, placing him P6. Max finished top with Oscar Piastri in P2, just 0.105s behind the Bull and Carlos Sainz finished third.
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SQ1
The 2024 Miami Grand Prix is the second race of the season to be a sprint weekend, so in SQ1 all drivers are mandated to compete on the medium tyre – which could be the best compound for the Miami track. With two minutes elapsed in the 12-minute session the Bulls hit the track. Checo stopped the clock at 1:28.681, which put him in P1 at that point in the session. He returned to the pits to adjust his front flap, but whilst in the box the Team decided he had done enough to get through the session and kept him in the garage.
Max set a time of 1:28.601, which put him above his teammate in P1. Max stayed out on track for two cool-down laps, and to be ready to go again if he needed to, but as the clock ran down his race engineer called him into the pits.
After Max had set his time, he was pushed down the leader board, first by Lando Norris who set a time of 1:27.939, 0.225s quicker than Max. Norris’ teammate, Oscar Piastri, then knocked Max into P3, before Fernando Alonso completed his lap, forcing Max in P4. Checo finished the session in P9.
Eliminated at the end of SQ1 were the Williams’ of Alexander Albon and Logan Sargeant, the Kick Sauber’s of Guanyu Zhou and Valtteri Bottas and Pierre Gasly in P16.
SQ2
The Bulls took two different strategies for SQ2. Max stayed in the garage as Checo headed out onto the track on a fresh set of mediums. Checo set his best time of the day, a 1:27.865 which placed him at P1 at that point.
Max left the garage with just four minutes left of the 10-minute session and knew he only had one chance to get into S3. Max took the chequered flag with a time of 1:28.001; it was enough for him to take P4.
Checo stayed out and was going for a second push, but when he knew he was safe, he aborted the lap to save the wear on the tyres. Norris once again was able clinch the top spot on the timesheet with a 1:27.597, knocking Checo into P2. Charles Leclerc was able to split Max and Checo, putting himself in P3.
Yuki Tsunoda, Kevin Magnussen, Esteban Ocon and the Mercedes’ of both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell were knocked out in SQ2.
SQ3
The final session of Sprint Qualifying was a waiting game, more than half of the eight minutes had ticked down before Nico Hulkenberg blinked first and entered the track. He was then followed by Max and Checo, before the remining seven cars headed out, all on the mandated soft tyres.
Checo was the lead Bull and put in a time of 1:27.876, placing him in P1. His teammate just behind him was quicker with a 1:27.641. As the other drivers took the chequered flag, the Bulls looked to have the front row locked out, but Charles Leclerc put in a blistering lap to split Max and Checo to claim P2.
So, Max will start Saturday’s Sprint Race on pole, with Leclerc next to him. Checo will be in P3 with Daniel Ricciardo in fourth, then Carlos Sainz in fifth. Oscar Piastri will start in P6, Lance Stroll in seventh, then his teammate Fernando Alonso in eigth, and then finishing out the top ten is Lando Norris in P9 and Nico Hulkenberg in P10.
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| Rank | Driver | Team | Time | Gap | | 1 | Max Verstappen | Oracle Red Bull Racing | 1:28. | - |
| 2 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:28. | +0.105 |
| 3 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | 1:28. | +0.116 |
| 4 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:28. | +0.189 |
| 5 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:28. | +0.222 |
| 6 | Sergio Pérez | Oracle Red Bull Racing | 1:28. | +0.273 |
| 7 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1:29. | +0.417 |
| 8 | Yuki Tsunoda | Visa Cash App RB | 1:29. | +0.461 |
| 9 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine | 1:29. | +0.568 |
| 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 1:29. | +0.580 |
