F1 Miami Grand Prix Dash Saturday: Can anybody catch Max Verstappen?

MIAMI — He described his automobile as “horrible.” His response when advised by the staff that he had captured pole place was “LOL.” And but daybreak breaks on one other day of Formulation 1 motion right here on the Miami Grand Prix with the paddock questioning if anybody can catch Max Verstappen.

It has not simply been that sort of season for Verstappen, however reasonably this has been the overarching storyline for F1 the previous three seasons and counting. Everytime the sector appears to be like to place the Pink Bull driver below stress — like McLaren did yesterday through the first two qualifying periods — Verstappen has answered that bell.

A major instance comes from the 2023 season, and qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix. Fernando Alonso, Charles Leclerc, and Esteban Ocon put all the things on the road of their remaining push laps, with all three drivers qualifying on provisional pole.

However not for lengthy.

As a result of because the seconds ticked down in Q3 Verstappen pushed his RB19 to the utmost restrict, extracting each millisecond he wanted to place himself in P1.

Yesterday it was Lando Norris. McLaren introduced a complete host of upgrades to the Miami Grand Prix, and Norris topped the timing sheets in each SQ1 and SQ2. However these instances had been set on the medium compound, as required by F1 Dash laws. When the softs had been bolted on, it was once more Verstappen on the entrance of the sector, with the remainder of the grid questioning if they will someway discover a solution to catch him right this moment.

Can they?

Ferrari and McLaren doubtless consider they’ve a shot. However as we now have seen time and time once more, everytime the problem has been put to him, Verstappen has answered the decision.

Will McLaren’s tempo carry the day?

Because the staff themselves admitted, SQ3 was one thing of a disappointment after what Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri each confirmed through the first two qualifying periods Friday afternoon.

However might Saturday’s Dash Race inform a distinct story.

As famous above, Norris was quickest in each SQ1 and SQ2 on the medium compound. As for Piastri, he completed SQ1 in P2 behind his teammate, and got here throughout the road P6 in SQ2. But as soon as the softs had been bolted on, the 2 McLarens couldn’t duplicate their earlier success.

Relating to Norris, the McLaren driver misplaced an excessive amount of time within the first sector, and couldn’t make up the hole over the subsequent two sectors to Verstappen. Utilizing telemetry information from F1-Tempo, you possibly can see how Norris within the upgraded MCL38 was faster via that first portion of the lap:

But, have a look at the distinction in SQ3, as Verstappen was faster via that first sector:

As the 2 drivers got here out of Flip 8 and into the quick and flowing begin of the second sector, the sport was over. Norris was down 0.842 seconds to Verstappen at that time, and couldn’t make up the misplaced time.

However Saturday might be a distinct story, given the previous McLaren confirmed on the medium compound throughout each SQ1 and SQ2

“We noticed actually sturdy efficiency from the automobile in Dash Qualifying however finally, it wasn’t rewarded within the session that counted. Each drivers had points on the Gentle tyre that compromised the ultimate end result,” stated Group Principal Andrea Stella following the session. “Nonetheless, we undoubtedly take encouragement from the tempo we’ve seen right this moment. That is simply the beginning of the weekend, and there are numerous alternatives to capitalise on the energy of the upgraded automobile we’ve delivered to Miami. It’s been an ideal effort from the staff on the manufacturing unit to get it right here, and we look ahead to rewarding that effort with sturdy outcomes throughout the weekend.”

Norris as nicely pointed to that first sector as his undoing.

“I simply pushed too onerous, so simple as that,” stated Norris following Dash Qualifying. “The automobile was feeling superb. Simply foolish, to be sincere. A few errors in Flip 1 and only a huge spiral from there. A disgrace as a result of the staff have completed an excellent job, the upgrades are working, so I’m proud of all the things. Simply not with one factor.”

Whereas Verstappen got here via in SQ3, the mediums might very nicely be the flavour of selection for Saturday’s F1 Dash Race.

Which, given what we noticed in SQ1 and SQ2, might bode very nicely for McLaren.

What is occurring with Mercedes?

A staff with extra questions than solutions proper now?

Mercedes.

The upgrades the staff delivered to Miami appeared to do the trick throughout FP1 Friday, however when the lap instances began counting for actual, the Silver Arrows discovered themselves frozen out come SQ3. Each George Russell and Lewis Hamilton did not advance to SQ3, and they’ll begin outdoors the factors on Saturday. Russell certified in P11, with Hamilton proper behind him in P12.

Can they make up the bottom on Saturday?

They admit it could be robust.

“The automobile felt actually good in [SQ1], after which [SQ2] it didn’t really feel horrible, it’s simply we had been seven-tenths off – that’s simply I believe the tempo of our automobile,” commented Hamilton after Dash Qualifying. “I believe the Dash race goes to be robust. We’re [starting] in twelfth, so I don’t count on an enormous quantity from there to be sincere. It’s not a simple circuit to overhaul on or to comply with [other cars], so simply making an attempt to step into the factors someway if we are able to.”

Russell sounded a bit extra optimistic, however conceded that the staff has to search out extra solutions throughout qualifying periods. “I imply, I’ve obtained little question we’ll transfer ahead within the Dash race,” described Russell. “We have to try to get on high of our qualifying woes. It’s at all times tough to combat with the vehicles forward once we’re beginning on the again foot.”

In the end, the staff simply want to search out extra tempo, as they lag behind the opposite high groups in the meanwhile.

“I really feel like we extracted all the things from the automobile, and that’s simply our tempo,” conceded Hamilton. “We simply have to simply accept it for the second that we’re seven-tenths off.”

Picture by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Pictures

Can Daniel Ricciardo break via?

A variety of drivers are beginning to really feel the stress of a fast-moving driver switch market.

Amongst these drivers? Daniel Ricciardo.

Ricciardo started the season as one of many drivers within the dialogue for a seat at Pink Bull alongside Verstappen in 2025. However over the primary few race weekends, the dialogue shifted, main many to marvel if as a substitute of combating for a spot at Pink Bull, Ricciardo was combating for his F1 future itself.

Friday, nonetheless, introduced a second within the solar for the Australian driver.

Ricciardo superior to SQ3, and when the mud settled he got here throughout the road fourth-fastest.

“I really feel clearly actually good about it. It was only a good session,” stated Ricciardo following Dash Qualifying.

Following the primary few race weekends of the season, that noticed Ricciardo battle compared to teammate Yuki Tsunoda, the staff made some modifications to the chassis of Ricciardo’s RB01 forward of the Chinese language Grand Prix. These modifications have given the motive force far more confidence within the automobile, as he adopted what was his strongest weekend in China — incident with Lance Stroll apart — with Friday’s stellar efficiency.

“I undoubtedly felt so much higher in China and yeah, hopefully that’s the beginning,” stated Ricciardo to the media, together with SB Nation, Thursday. “However quite a lot of it comes out right here feeling and being snug, you recognize? There was, truthfully, one thing that after I hit the monitor in China, I did really feel like I had a bit extra.

“So whether or not that may be a bodily change that perhaps one thing chassis supplied me, and it simply gave me a bit extra feeling of actually what the automobile is gonna do. In order that was good.”

What could be higher?

His first factors of the season, that are undoubtedly on supply given the place he’ll begin right this moment.

“I’d like to be greater than eighth, for certain,” described Ricciardo on Friday. “I’d like to get a couple of factors from it … I’m certain the second row will assist our trigger in getting some factors.”

Strain mounting on Logan Sargeant

On the opposite finish of the grid this Saturday we discover hometown hero Logan Sargeant.

As rumors proceed to work their approach via the paddock about Sargeant’s future, and the notion that the younger and proficient Andrea Kimi Antonelli will likely be tapped for Sargeant’s seat as quickly as doable, the Williams driver is actually combating for his future.

Throughout Friday’s FIA Press Convention, Williams staff boss James Vowles downplayed the Antonelli rumors. However in that denial the Williams Group Principal made it clear: Sargeant must “earn his seat” to maintain it.

“Let’s put it this manner. I haven’t spoken to Kimi since Abu Dhabi final yr. Hopefully that places it in context. I do know nothing about what’s occurring at Mercedes’ checks proper now. We’re wanting, as everybody else is, for the place we need to be on driver line-up for subsequent yr and we now have our personal younger driver [program],” stated Vowles in response to a query from Scott Mitchell-Malm of The Race. “Within the case of Kimi, I can’t actually adjudicate on the extent he’s at. In case of him coming into the automobile this yr, I’ve at all times stated from the start, it’s a meritocracy. Logan has to earn his seat. And in the meanwhile, he has some robust targets the place he has to get a lot nearer to Alex. However there’s nothing on the radar in the meanwhile for changing him.”

To that remaining level, Sargeant did end forward of teammate Alexander Albon in Dash Qualifying. And he has two extra periods forward of him right this moment — the F1 Dash Race in addition to qualifying for the Miami Grand Prix — to make his case.

Nevertheless it definitely feels just like the clock is ticking.