Charles Leclerc tops extended sole practice at Miami Grand Prix

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc has topped the opening and sole practice session of the Miami Grand Prix weekend, pipping Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to the fastest lap.

Feature image credit: Pirelli

Ferrari’s Monegasque driver topped the opening practice session of the weekend as Formula 1 resumes, following a five-week break due to the Middle East race cancellations.

It was a lengthy 90-minute session, extended from its usual one-hour slot by 30 minutes. This was due to the recently announced refinements to the technical regulations relating to the power units, and the fact that this weekend is a sprint race.

When the session started, all but the Cadillac pairing ventured out onto the Miami circuit with the hard tyre; the Cadillac drivers opted for the medium compounds. However, the drivers switched later to the softer compounds.

After 90 minutes, Leclerc was fastest out on the circuit with a lap time of 1m 29.310s, pipping ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who finished 0.297s behind. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri rounded out the top three, 0.448s off the pace.

Red Bull also brought their own adaptation of the ‘Macarena’ wing, similar to Ferrari’s reverted rear wing. However, further down the field, Aston Martin struggled to get out of the pits due to power unit issues.

So, who finished where after the extended sole practice session of the Miami Grand Prix?

Miami Grand Prix: the full F1 schedule and times

FP1 lap times

1. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari – 1m 29.310s
2. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing +0.297s
3. Oscar Piastri, McLaren +0.448s
4. Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari +0.467s
5. Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes +0.769s
6. George Russell, Mercedes +0.790s
7. Lando Norris, McLaren +0.898s
8. Pierre Gasly, Alpine +1.277s
9. Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing +1.563s
10. Carlos Sainz, Williams +1.620s
11. Franco Colapinto, Alpine +1.705s
12. Alexander Albon, Williams +1.714s
13. Oliver Bearman, Haas +1.781s
14. Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi +1.801s
15. Nico Hulkenberg, Audi +2.285s
16. Esteban Ocon, Haas +2.325s
17. Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls +2.338s
18. Sergio Perez, Cadillac +2.737s
19. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin +3.283s
20. Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac +3.452s
21. Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls +3.552s
22. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin +3.649s

How F1 points are awarded if Miami Grand Prix is cancelled

Read more Formula 1 here:

• How F1 points are awarded if Miami Grand Prix is cancelled
• Miami Grand Prix: Storm threat raises risk of race disruption
• Miami Grand Prix: the full F1 schedule and times
• Miami Grand Prix: Weather warns thunderstorms for race day
• F1 Miami Grand Prix sole FP1 to be extended to 90 minutes
• Valtteri Bottas race-worn 2026 helmet to be sold at auction

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.