Firstly because it is a rather demanding asphalt for the tires, causing a lot of graining, which is not really appreciated by the RB20s who nevertheless achieved the double there last year.
Then because Ferrari and Mercedes arrived with their first developments of the season. “We should have less trouble than in Shanghai,” announced Frédéric Vasseur, the boss of the Scuderia before seeing Carlos Sainz sign the third best time of the only free session, 116 thousandths of the reference set by Max Verstappen in 1.28.595. “It won't be easy to score a sixth consecutive pole,” announced the three-time world champion before qualifying for the sprint race this Saturday at 5:30 p.m. It will be followed at 10 p.m. by qualifying for the Grand Prix this Sunday 24 hours later.
GP Miami: Verstappen already sets the tone for the Frees, Leclerc at fault
Five marks in three tenths
Between the Red Bull and the Ferrari, we found the McLaren of Oscar Piastri a tenth behind and just behind, in fourth place, the Mercedes of Georges Russell at 189 thousandths. With Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) and Sergio Pérez (Red Bull), that made six drivers and five brands in less than three tenths of a second. In total, there were eight competitors in less than half a second and sixteen in the same second! Not to mention Charles Leclerc, the big loser of this first shortened session after a spin with his engine stalled. A lack of driving which could have consequences for the rest of the weekend for a Monegasque once again caught making a mistake.
Very tight gaps therefore promising a great sprint… for qualifying, but also two races which are logically more open.
If Lewis Hamilton, 7th, was not worried, Daniel Ricciardo may be. Once again behind his Japanese teammate, the Australian is in the hot seat at RB. If he does not achieve a big result here, he could be replaced at Imola by Liam Lawson.
Another driver under threat is local hero Logan Sargeant. The American continues to disappoint and it is rumored that he could be replaced at Williams at the next Imola GP by the new Mercedes nugget, the 17-year-old Italian Andrea Kimi Antonelli who trained this week in Emilia Romagna at the controls of a Mercedes W13. It remains to obtain an exemption, the FIA having decided since the very early debut of a certain Max Verstappen to ban F1 for under 18s. One wonders why…
