Miami Grand Prix – Max Verstappen ended the opening day in Miami on top, the only driver in the 1:27s, while the Ferrari duo were his closest challengers.
The Alfa Romeos led the way out for the second session of the day and Valtteri Bottas started the times off with a 1:32.355. Nico Hulkenberg’s car had been fixed up after his crash in FP1 and his teammate, Kevin Magnussen had his own moment early in the second session, spinning and brushing the wall at T15, but was able to keep going.
(FP2) Second Practice Results – 2023 Miami Grand Prix
Ten minutes in and everyone had a set a time but it was Charles Leclerc who was on top with a 1:29.497, over a tenth ahead of the Red Bulls. A few minutes later though and Max Verstappen had leapfrogged the Ferrari racer with a 1:29.380.
Lando Norris was the first to go below a 1:29 after strapping on some soft tyres the McLaren driver put in a 1:28.741 while the McLarens and the Williams cars had the circuit to themselves. The papaya squad got to enjoy both their drivers leading the way for a few minutes when Oscar Piastri jumped into P2, though he was still almost six tenths off his teammate.
The McLarens were separated by Fernando Alonso but it was Carlos Sainz that almost challenged Norris’ P1 as the Ferrari driver set a time 0.091 seconds slower than the leader. The Norris supremacy lasted less than ten minutes and was brought to an end by a very speedy lap by Verstappen, a 1:28.255.
The Dutch driver then proceeded to lower the time even more, this time to a 1:27.930. The session was Red Flagged just inside the final ten minutes when Leclerc went into the barriers at T7. The Monegasque driver’s car started to get out of shape at the rear, he managed to catch the snap but there wasn’t enough space left for him to get around the corner and he locked up and went nose first into the barriers instead.
The track went green again with four minutes on the clock but there was no changes to the timesheets so Verstappen ended the day on top nearly four tenths ahead of the Ferraris of Sainz and Leclerc. Sergio Perez was P4 with Alonso and Norris. Lewis Hamilton in P7 was the last driver within a second of Verstappen while Lance Stroll put in a 1:28.930 for P8. The top ten was closed out by Esteban Ocon and Alex Albon.
