Max fourth fastest in Miami FP1

Published on 05 May 2023 by Stefan Meens

Max Verstappen clocked the fourth quickest time in the opening practice session of the Miami Grand Prix. Mercedes were quickest with George Russell outpacing team mate Lewis Hamilton. Charles Leclerc completed the top three in his Ferrari. Max’ Oracle Red Bull Racing team mate Sergio Perez finished FP1 in eleventh. 

As expected, the ambient temperatures in Florida are around 30 degrees Celsius, leading to track temperatures in the high forties. The heat does not stop the drivers venturing out on track. At the start of the session, it is busy with Fernado Alonso’s Aston Martin being the first car to exit the pit lane. 

Max, whose RB19 sports a new livery exclusively for the Miami GP, is one of the first drivers to clock a lap. His opening effort propels him to P1. The reigning champion continues to lap the Miami street circuit and improves his lap times. Twenty minutes in, Max returns back to the pits to review the opening third of session, whilst still topping the timing sheets 

At the halfway mark, Nico Hulkenberg is a surprising pace setter after clocking the fastest lap thus far. The German does so with soft Pirellis bolted onto his Haas. Soon after, Max heads out for his first timed effort on the softs and goes to the top of the leader boards. To make matters worse for Hulkenberg, the Haas driver spins and ends up in the wall, causing a red flag.  

With eighteen minutes on the clock, the session resumes with both Red Bulls first out on track. Max continues to better his lap time and extends the gap to Hulkenberg and third-placed Sergio Perez. Nevertheless, the Dutchman has to settle for fourth place at the end of FP1 with both Mercedes and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc lapping the streets of Miami fractionally quicker in the closing stages.

Contest GP Miami: win a by Max Verstappen signed 1:2 Miami GP 2022 helmet! 

Results first free practice Miami: