Sergio Perez claimed pole position with Max Verstappen only ninth after a dramatic end to qualifying at the Miami Grand Prix.
The Mexican produced a clean lap at the start of Q3 and then benefitted from Charles Leclerc crashing again in the closing minutes to bring the session to an early end.
Fernando Alonso was another big winner in second for Aston Martin, as Carlos Sainz completed the top three.
Q1
The first segment saw Verstappen lead Sainz by three-tenths at the front, but all eyes were on Mercedes as both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell were in the elimination zone as the final runs began.
Hamilton had also been compromised by an impeding incident with Kevin Magnussen approaching Turn 17, making slight contact with the barrier to avoid the slow-moving Haas.
Problems for Hamilton ?
He’s clipped the wall he tells his Mercedes team after taking avoiding action behind Magnussen #MiamiGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/yYe21sx7n1
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 6, 2023
No surprise would be coming though with both Black Arrows improving the secure places in Q2.
Instead, it would be McLaren left disappointed as Lando Norris was eliminated in 16th place and Oscar Piastri 19th.
Yuki Tsunoda missed out in 17th ahead of Lance Stroll in a very disappointing 18th for Aston Martin.
Florida native Logan Sargeant was slowest but only two-tenths off Nyck De Vries in 15th and 1.2s behind pacesetter Verstappen as the field was incredibly close.
Q2
Verstappen continued to set the pace in Q2, a tenth-and-a-half clear of Leclerc and Fernando Alonso improving to third.
After surviving Q1, Hamilton wouldn’t be so lucky in Q2 as a poor final run left the Briton down in 13th, while teammate Russell just made it through in P10.
Alex Albon missed out on Q3 by half a tenth in 11th, ahead of Nico Hulkenberg in 12th for Haas. Zhou Guanyu followed Hamilton in 14th with De Vries rounding out the top 15.
Q3
Sergio Perez set the pace after the first runs in Q3 as Verstappen had to abort his first lap following a mistake at Turn 7.
Just as the final runs got underway though, Leclerc would spin off into the barrier at Turn 6 causing a red flag with not enough time to restart the session.
Leclerc goes spinning off into the barriers!
? RED FLAG ? #MiamiGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/tabpI1bSnm
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 6, 2023
That secured Perez his pole position with Alonso in second and Sainz third. Kevin Magnussen will start fourth for Haas, ahead of Pierre Gasly in fifth.
Russell was sixth followed by Leclerc and Esteban Ocon in eighth. While Verstappen will only start ninth after being unable to set a time in Q3, a notable setback for the Dutchman.
Valtteri Bottas got Alfa Romeo into the top 10 in qualifying for the first time in 2023 but also didn’t set a time.
Full results from qualifying can be seen below:
QUALIFYING CLASSIFICATION
Verstappen will start Sunday’s race from P9 ?#MiamiGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/PjPRdpFxEx
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 6, 2023
