Charles Leclerc has raised hopes that Ferrari could take on Max Verstappen at Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix.
Verstappen has maintained his imperious form during the Miami Sprint weekend so far, leading every session, and will aim to follow up his victory over Leclerc in Saturday’s Short Sprint in Sunday’s 57-lap main race.
But on a weekend in which the entire field – including Verstappen – struggled to ensure consistent tire performance on the Miami street track, Leclerc is comforted by the fact that he finished relatively close to the world champion during the 19-lap sprint while on the inside. two seconds from the Red Bull for most of the race.
Sunday’s race is live Sky Sports F1 and begins at 9 p.m., with an increase in power from 7:30 p.m.
“He’s obviously very strong, as always, coming into race day,” Leclerc said of polesitter Verstappen, who leads the F1 grid for the seventh consecutive race.
“This morning (in Sprint) we were close. He was saying he wasn’t happy with the car, so let’s see how happy he is with the car (in Grand Prix). I hope he is still a little unhappy and we can put him under pressure.
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Miami GP Sprint Highlights
“We took a few steps forward from this morning, so did they, but if we get the DRS after the first lap I think we might be able to stay with him.”
At the post-qualifying press conference, Leclerc added: “In Sprint we were closer to what we usually see. We need to see how much of a step forward he takes, but we also need to some adjustments on our side.
“If we have a similar pace to the Sprint, with a strategy, we can put a little pressure on.”
Ferrari’s quest to beat Red Bull for only the second time in six races this season could be aided by the fact that Leclerc and teammate Carlos Sainz, who qualified third, will start between Red Bull duo Verstappen and Sergio Perez, who will line up fourth. .
“I think when Max starts from the front it’s always difficult to find ways to beat him, but having two cars is our best possible bet,” said Sainz, the only driver to beat Verstappen in the last 25 races.
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Miami Grand Prix Qualifying Highlights
“Obviously if you look at the latest statistics it will be extremely difficult, but we will do our best.”
Verstappen explains his approach to the ‘unpredictable’ weekend
Although Verstappen may not have been listed on a timesheet so far during F1’s third visit to America’s Sunshine State, the world champion has not been free of problems and of complaints on track during what he has described so far as an “unpredictable” event.
“What has been key so far this weekend is just trying to make as few mistakes as possible,” Verstappen said. Aerial sports.
“It’s been pretty bad for everyone, I think there’s not a lot of people enjoying their laps, but just try to minimize the mistakes and then go from there.”
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Despite his pole, Max Verstappen described qualifying as unpredictable after several drivers on the grid struggled with grip.
He is, however, confident that Red Bull will put their RB20 car in a better place on Sunday to give themselves the best chance of securing a fifth victory in six races this season.
“The only thing we can control is within ourselves. That’s what we’re going to focus on. As long as I’m happy with my balance in the race, everything will be fine,” added the Dutchman.
“It just has to be a little bit better than what we had in the (Sprint) race. If we can achieve that and be in a happier window, I’m sure we’ll be fast.”
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Anthony Davidson compares Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc’s fastest laps during qualifying at the Miami GP.
What happened to McLaren and Norris’ challenge?
Armed with a big package of car improvements in Miami, it looked like McLaren and not Ferrari, who didn’t change much on their car here, were set to be Red Bull’s closest challengers this weekend.
However, as in Sprint Qualifying on Friday, McLaren’s challenge for the leading positions did not materialize as expected on Saturday.
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Lando Norris would like to be able to revisit the changes made to his McLaren after finishing fifth in qualifying for the Miami GP.
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will start together on the third row, having respectively been three and four tenths behind Verstappen’s pace in Q3, with the former left ruining the post-Sprint configuration changes.
“I think we should be higher,” Norris said.
“We did what we thought was right, but on the track sometimes things go a little differently.
“We’ve made some of these changes and I wish we could go back to them now before (the race), but obviously we can’t.”
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Despite his pole, Max Verstappen described qualifying as unpredictable after several drivers on the grid struggled with grip.
Sky Sports F1 Miami GP live schedule
Sunday May 5
6:05 p.m.: Race 2 of the F1 Academy
7:30 p.m.: Preparation for the Grand Prix on Sunday in Miami*
9 p.m.: The MIAMI GRAND PRIX*
11 p.m.: Checkered flag: reaction from the Miami GP*
Midnight: Ted’s Notebook*
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event
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