Live updates from the Miami Grand Prix weekend continue as qualifying approaches. Lando Norris won the sprint race earlier on Saturday, setting the stage for an exciting qualifying session at 9pm BST. The FIA has issued a statement regarding potential thunderstorms forecast for Sunday's race, with contingency plans in place. Max Verstappen expressed frustration after finishing fifth in the sprint, citing a poor start and car handling issues. Lewis Hamilton, who finished seventh, hopes for setup changes before qualifying. Oscar Piastri and George Russell also shared their thoughts after the sprint. Meanwhile, Kimi Antonelli leads the drivers' championship with 75 points, followed by George Russell and Charles Leclerc.
Qualifying Time and Weather Concerns
Qualifying for the Miami Grand Prix is scheduled to start at 9pm BST on Saturday night. However, thunderstorms are forecast for Sunday, prompting the FIA to release a statement confirming they are closely monitoring the situation. A contingency plan is in place to minimise disruption if needed, similar to last year's event.
Drivers' Championship Standings After Sprint
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - 75 points
- George Russell (Mercedes) - 68 points
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 55 points
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) - 43 points
- Lando Norris (McLaren) - 33 points
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) - 28 points
- Ollie Bearman (Haas) - 17 points
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine) - 16 points
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - 16 points
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) - 10 points
Driver Reactions
Max Verstappen after finishing fifth in the sprint: "The start was again not good, similar to China. In clean air, the car felt not too bad, the pace was alright, there’s still a lot of room for improvement. In slow-speed corners, the car is jumping a lot." Regarding a clash with Hamilton, he said: "I had to let him by but he didn’t come by. Don’t know what else I could have done there. That was a shame."
Lewis Hamilton on his seventh-place finish: "I’m hoping we can change a lot for qualifying. Yesterday I lost three-tenths because the software wasn’t working. Losing down the straights, in the race that continued, we have to make some changes going into qualifying. The setup is in the wrong place, definitely make some good changes going forward."
Oscar Piastri, who finished second in the sprint: "Overall a good morning, let’s see what we can do for qualifying, let’s hope we can maintain that for the weekend."
George Russell, who finished fourth: "P4. Obviously, the improvements from McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull - a little bit daunting."
Verstappen Calls for More Driver Input
Max Verstappen emphasised the need for greater driver involvement in rule-making, saying: "We had some nice meetings with Formula One and the FIA. I think that’s probably a starting point, hopefully, for the future. Even, you know, in a few years’ time, when maybe I’m not here anymore, I really hope that for the future drivers as well, there’s more input to come from the drivers to the organisers in general. Because I do think that most of the drivers have a good understanding and a good feel of what is needed to make Formula One a good product, a fun product."
Hamilton Pays Tribute to Alex Zanardi
Lewis Hamilton paid a warm tribute to the late Alex Zanardi at the Miami Grand Prix, calling him a "remarkable inspiration." Hamilton told Sky Sports: "Sad to hear of his passing. He was remarkable, a really lovely guy. And then with his resilience, the way he came back, how he always maintained a positive mental attitude. An inspiration to so many and he did things the right way."
McLaren's Prospects and Title Defence
Lando Norris, the reigning champion, won the sprint and aims to defend his title. McLaren's growth under CEO Zak Brown has been significant, with the team valued at approximately £4bn. Despite a mixed start to the season, they remain contenders.
