Leclerc, Sainz, Jr. take 1-2 for the first front-row lockout for the Scuderia in four years.
MIAMI, Florida—Charles Leclerc put his disappointment of the past two weeks behind him as the Monegasque clocked a 1:28:796 fastest time Saturday afternoon at the Hard Rock International Autodrome in preparation for Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix. Leclerc finished ahead of Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took third.
Charles Leclerc: The last weekend wasn’t been great for me – I made a mistake in the race. But today went well. Red Bull are extremely quick in the straight lines. We are quick in the corners, and it will be a tight challenge. Hopefully, we will come out on top.
Leclerc dominated the three qualifying sessions, coming just ahead in the final session with minutes to spare. Sainz Jr. was right behind Leclerc but could not match his time. Verstappen, meanwhile, was further behind, but a mistake cost him a chance to get the pole.
“Overall, I was pretty pleased with qualifying,” Verstappen. “I only did four or five laps yesterday. Today was about learning the track and the car. I was pleased to be so competitive. Overall, we did a good job, but we have to stop making the weekends so difficult. The car is handling quite well, and I am looking forward to it.”
Sergio Perez took fourth in the second Red Bull, and Valtteri Bottas was fifth in the Alfa Romeo. Mercedes’s Lewis Hamilton was sixth, while Alpha Tauri’s Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda were seventh and ninth. McLaren’s Lando Norris was eighth, and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll finished an impressive tenth.
Besides the Ferrari sweep, the day’s big news was how many drivers were eliminated in qualifying.
In addition to those qualifhing casualties, Alpine’s Esteban Ocon did not take part in qualifying due to a crash in Free Practice 3 that cracked his chassis, which his team was unable to repair in time for qualifying.
The race, a sell-out for months, will be televised in the United States through ABC television, beginning at 3:25 PM Eastern time via Sky.
