Piastri sets the pace in Miami GP's lone practice session as late red flag disrupts action
Oscar Piastri Sets Fastest Time in Miami GP Practice as Bearman’s Crash Cuts Session Short
Oscar Piastri claimed the top spot during Friday's sole practice session for the Miami Grand Prix, clocking the fastest time ahead of Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen. The session came to a premature close after Ollie Bearman’s late crash brought out the red flags, derailing several drivers’ soft-tyre runs.
Sprint Format Increases Intensity of Practice
With the Sprint format making its second appearance this season at the Miami International Autodrome, drivers had just one hour of track time to fine-tune their setups before Sprint Qualifying—a critical session scheduled for later in the day. This limited window of preparation led to an intense rush of on-track action as soon as the green light illuminated.
The session kicked off under baking Florida skies at 12:30 PM local time, with most drivers easing into their weekends on medium and hard Pirelli compounds. However, not everything went off without a hitch. Lando Norris discovered tools in his McLaren cockpit and promptly reported the issue, which the stewards confirmed would be investigated post-session. Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda noted discomfort with a seat height that, in his words, felt “quite high.”
Russell Sets the Early Pace
Roughly 15 minutes in, George Russell set the early benchmark with a 1m 28.058s on the medium tires, accompanied by a daring slide through Turns 14 and 15. The effort saw him sit three-tenths clear of Norris and half a second ahead of Verstappen, who was notably competing shortly after celebrating the arrival of his first child.
For comparison, Verstappen's pole times from last year’s Miami GP stood at 1m 27.641s in Sprint Qualifying and 1m 27.241s in standard qualifying, hinting at the potential for quicker laps as the session unfolded.
Close Calls and Mid-Session Drama
As drivers pushed their limits, Norris nearly collided with Esteban Ocon’s Alpine at the Turn 17 hairpin, narrowly avoiding a costly incident. This close call was also flagged for investigation by the stewards.
Piastri Delivers as Soft Tyres Transform Leaderboard
When the field switched to the softest red-marked rubber for their late-session flying laps, the leaderboard transformed with a flurry of personal-best green and purple sector times. Piastri capitalized during these final moments, posting a 1m 27.128s despite brushing the wall—a standout performance that put him comfortably ahead of Leclerc, Verstappen, and the Williams duo of Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon.
Bearman’s Crash Halts Late Heroics
The session’s momentum was disrupted with just five minutes remaining when rookie Ollie Bearman lost control exiting Turn 11 and spun into the wall at Turn 12. His heavily damaged car triggered the red flags, forcing the session to a premature end. “Ah, man – sorry,” Bearman lamented over team radio.
Top 10 Results
The red flag left several drivers unable to complete their fast laps, including Russell, whose earlier medium-tyre time was good enough for seventh overall. Ahead of him, Isack Hadjar showcased an impressive effort in his Racing Bulls car, securing sixth place. Tsunoda and Russell's Mercedes teammate, Kimi Antonelli, rounded out the top eight, with Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin completing the top ten.
Midfield and Backmarkers Standings
Norris ended up 12th after missing the chance to improve his time, slotting between Liam Lawson’s VCARB 02 in 11th and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton in 13th. Further down the standings, Kick Sauber racers Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto placed 14th and 15th, while the unfortunate Bearman ranked 16th despite his crash.
Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan managed 17th and 19th respectively for Alpine, sandwiching their teammate Ocon in 18th. Lance Stroll struggled for pace in the second Aston Martin, completing the 20-car field.
Focus Shifts to Sprint Qualifying
With the Miami GP weekend operating under the Sprint format, Piastri will aim to build on his momentum in Sprint Qualifying, set to begin at 4:30 PM local time. The session's results will determine the starting grid for Saturday’s high-stakes, 100-kilometer Sprint race—a crucial opportunity for teams to bag early points before Sunday’s main event.
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