Verstappen takes sprint pole in "terrible" Sprint Shootout

F1 Grand Prix, GP Miami, Miami

Despite claiming his car felt really terrible, Max Verstappen ended up fastest in the Sprint Shootout today to get the best starting position for tomorrow's Sprint at Miami. He'll lead Leclerc and Perez as Ricciardo surprised by taking 4th.

After the usual suspects of Stake and Williams had kicked off running the entire field was out on track quickly as well to try to get a decent laptime in before it became urgent. The short sessions in sprint qualifying typically mean drivers don't have many opportunities.

After Alonso brushed the barriers and Verstappen emerged on top it as Norris who took over the lead of the timing sheet. Piastri later slotted into second with Alonso moving up to third in the dying seconds.

Haas' Kevin Magnussen did well to go 5th fastest while his team mate eventually only just made it through into SQ2. Gasly on the other hand did not, eliminated together with Zhou, Bottas, Sargeant and Albon, the latter having his best time deleted for track limits, or rather just completely cutting an entire corner.

SQ2 kicked off with Magnussen out first, followed by Hulkenberg, Perez, Stroll, Ricciardo and Ocon.

Yet again it was Norris who emerged on top after Ricciardo impressed with a second fastest time. The Australian looks on form here but reported to have brushed the wall while on that quick lap though there was no apparent damage on his specially coloured RB.

Max Verstappen did just a single run to save a set of mediums at the time when the Mercedes came back out to try to get out of the dropzone. Not too many people managed an improvement and most, including the two Aston Martin drivers backed out of their second efforts when they understood they were safe. The Mercedes weren't but despite their best efforts couldn't make it through, stranded in 11th and 12th.

After a fairly lowly session on the medium tyres, Verstappen suddenly came alive with the Red Bull working perfectly to take pole position for the sprint race. Norris in contrast ended up only 9th, beaten by his teammate Piastri who ended up 6th, ahead of the two Aston Martins.

Charles Leclerc was second fastest at one tenth, followed by Perez. Ricciardo showed flashes of greatness and ended up 4th in qualifying. He will surely be hoping to finally make an end to his troubled start of the season. Carlos Sainz ended up 5th fastest while Nico Hulkenberg completed the top 10.