McLaren's Oscar Piastri showcased his dominance during the practice session at the Miami Grand Prix, setting the fastest lap time of the day. With a lead of 0.356 seconds over Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, Piastri demonstrated McLaren's competitive edge as teams geared up for the sprint qualifying later in the day.

Key Highlights from Practice

• Piastri's Performance: The young driver topped the charts, solidifying his position as a title contender this season.
• Bearman's Crash: Haas driver Oliver Bearman lost control at Turns 11 and 12, hitting the wall and ending the session prematurely.
• Impact on Other Drivers: The crash prevented Lando Norris from completing a lap on soft tyres, leaving him in 12th place. George Russell also missed out on a faster lap, slipping to seventh.
• Top Performers: Max Verstappen of Red Bull secured third place, while Williams drivers Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon took fourth and fifth, respectively.

Sprint Qualifying Anticipation

With the Miami Grand Prix being the second sprint event of the season, the stakes are high. The circuit also announced a new contract, ensuring the race remains on the calendar until 2041. Sprint qualifying is set to begin at 21:30 BST, promising thrilling action for Formula 1 fans.

Notable Absences

• Lewis Hamilton did not run on soft tyres, finishing in 13th place.
• Verstappen's Return: The reigning world champion returned to the track after missing Thursday's media day due to the birth of his daughter, Lily.

What’s Next?

As the teams fine-tune their strategies, all eyes will be on Piastri and McLaren to see if they can maintain their momentum during the sprint qualifying and the main race. Stay tuned for more updates and live coverage of the Miami Grand Prix.