Red Bull’s Sergio Perez will start the Miami Grand Prix from pole position after posting a time of 1:26.841s – but that doesn’t tell the story of a simply crazy qualifying.
Both McLarens were dumped out in Q1, with Australia’s Oscar Piastri set to start second-last in front of just home hope Logan Sargeant in the Williams.
It was an embarrassing moment for team boss, Zak Brown, who had Amazon billionaire owner Jeff Bezos watching on from pit lane as a team guest.
Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin will start in front of Piastri after another poor performance – especially since his teammate Fernando Alonso starts second on the grid.
Then Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton was dumped out in a Q2 shock, and is set to start 13th.
He complained to his team over the team radio: “We got out way too late guys.”
In Q3, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc spun out and hit the barriers, bringing a red flag and an early end to the session. Leclerc had completed a solid lap in Q3 before his crash, meaning he’ll start in seventh. It was his second crash of the weekend, having hit the barriers to bring out a red flag in practice.
Watch the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix 2023 Live and ad-break free in racing on Kayo Sports this Monday May 8th 5:30AM AEST. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
But his qualification crash was disastrous for the Red Bull of Max Verstappen, who ran wide on his first flying lap, meaning the reigning world champion will start just ninth.
“I was trying to put it on the limit and then I made a mistake and had to abort the lap,” Verstappen said.
“Then you rely on a bit of luck that there is not going to be a red flag, but that can happen on a street circuit. I’m just a bit upset with myself.
“It’s going to be difficult. I made it difficult for myself, so I have to accept that,” he said.
Leclerc hits barrier in Miami practice | 00:52
Perez will lead Alonso off the line, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz third and the Haas of Kevin Magnussen to start fourth.
Perez is just six points behind defending world champion Verstappen, after the Mexican’s second victory of the season in Azerbaijan last week.
With Red Bull consistently the fastest this season, the duel between their two drivers is so far the source of the most drama.
“I’m enjoying (the battle),” said Perez, “I’m just thinking race by race. Tomorrow (Sunday) is a new opportunity starting from pole, we are the ones that have something to lose,” he said.
Perez said he had been struggling in practice before finding his pace when it counted.
“It wasn’t coming together. I was struggling for balance, confidence,” he said. “It has been my worst weekend up to qualifying. I was just resetting everything we did, we made a small change into qualifying that really everything became more alive. We put in the lap when it mattered,” added the Red Bull driver.
HAMILTON FRUSTRATED
Hamilton has an even more difficult task as his frustrations continued. “Last run I was at the last of the pack and trying to get the temperatures into the tyres. Everyone slowed into the last corner and I lost all temperatures and couldn’t do the lap,” he said.
“We knew it was very hard and there was a 50:50 chance we could get into Q3 so we need to be better with our timing. It’s done, I’ll try and get my head down tomorrow and see what I can do — 13th to God knows where,” he said.
