Verstappen clarified the doubts and dominated in Miami, after the surprise of Mercedes

THE Formula 1 opened this Friday the first of three races that will take place this year in the United States, the Grand Prix of Miami, and Max Verstappen He clarified the doubts that arose in the morning, with the surprising dominance of Mercedes in the first free practice. In the afternoon, the Dutchman accelerated to set the fastest time in a training session in which the Ferraris managed to get between the Red Bulls.

With a time of 1m27.930, the two-time Dutch champion and winner of the first GP in Miami last year was the fastest of the day, with a lead of 385 thousandths on Carlos Sainz. Charles Leclerc and Sergio Checo Pérez, however, closed respectively at 468 and 489 thousandths.

Behind them Fernando Alonso, with the Aston Martin, and two places below the seven times British champion Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes),

With ten minutes to go, already testing with full tanks, the Red flag It appeared when Leclerc hit the Ferrari’s nose against the wall guards at turn seven. The Monegasque lost control of the rear of the car and, although he blocked himself, he was unable to turn or brake before the impact, which clearly caused the right front tire to break.

The activity will continue on Saturday with the third training session (at 1.30pm, on Star+) and the qualifications (at 5.00pm) which will define the starting order for the fifth race of the season, scheduled for Sunday at 4.30pm

For now, Red Bull’s dominance is overwhelming. Max Verstappen has won in Bahrain and Australia and Checo Pérez has done it in Saudi Arabia and most recently on the road in Azerbaijan.

Mercedes surprised first

​Before Verstappen clarified the doubts, Mercedes cheered up and showed their claws in the first free practice session. Of the two British riders in the German team it was George Russell the fastest, lapping in 1m30s125 in his fastest lap which allowed him to precede the seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton by 212 thousandths.
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Behind them the Ferrari of the Monegasque Charles Leclerc, who had just won pole position in Baku (in the race and in the Sprint Race) and lapped 324 thousandths slower than Russell, while Verstappen is fourth, 424 thousandths behind. hard.

That session did not go well for Azerbaijan GP winner Checo Pérez, who finished eleventh on track, more than a second off the fastest.