We are in Florida, a Miami, for the fifth round of this season, the second on this circuit after the 2022 debut. The track, recently resurfaced, will be very slippery: another variation to be taken into consideration over the weekend. Log in and Verstappen, despite making a few mistakes here and there, immediately puts himself in command.
Soon after, De Vries carries his bad moment from Baku to Miami, ending in spin and causing a yellow flag. Russell, after an outlap at the start of the session, he decides to go back to the pits and have the mechanics fix the steering column which causes him vibrations.
Midway through the session, most of the grid switched from the medium compounds to the softs and started the qualification simulation. Hulkenberg with Haas he puts himself in front of everyone, but exaggerates in a quick lap and finishes on the wall, bringing out the Red flag. Meanwhile, Russell had just come out of the pits to start a run on the yellow tyre: the problem on his W14 was solved.
While Perez doesn't seem at ease, the two Ferraris are promising. 5 minutes after the end of the session, Leclerc e Sainz they are respectively second and third, with the Monegasque just 2 tenths behind the leader Verstappen. Hamilton and Russell choose to do just one lap on the red tyre, favoring the run on the yellow, while Verstappen dedicates the last few minutes to simulating the race pace.
With a more rubberized track, the two Mercedes are placed first and second, with Russell in front of Hamilton with two tenths and thus close the first free practice session. Third place for Leclerc: to bear in mind the fact that his best time did not come on the first attempt with the soft compound.
Verstappen, which scored his best time with track not yet evolved, closes in fourth place, ahead of a Sainz that seems improved compared to Baku. They close the top 10 gasly, Alonso, Stroll, Hulkenberg e Or with. Perez disappoints in eleventh position, before Piastres, Magnussen, Bottas, Albon, Norris, Zhou, tsunoda, Sergeant e De Vries.
The appointment for FP2 and at 23:30!
