Charles Leclerc and Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto. Photo: AFP
Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), leader of the Formula One World Championship, was the fastest this Friday in the first free practice for the Miami Grand Prix, in the United States, the fifth season, which will take place this weekend on the circuit built around Hard Rock Stadium in the said town of Florida.
In his best lap, Leclerc covered 5,412 meters of the new Miami track in 1: 31.98, 71 thousandths less than Englishman George Russell (Mercedes). It was a session in which Red Bulls Dutchman Max Verstappen, last world champion, and Mexican Sergio Pérez marked the third and fourth times, at 179 and 203 thousandths, respectively. They are all soft wheels.
Verstappen, aboard his Red Bull. Photo: AFP
Lewis Hamilton, along with other Silver Dates, achieved the eighth fastest time behind Pierre Gasly (Alpha Tauri), Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) and Alexander Albon (Williams), who were fifth, sixth and seventh in the first test.
The session, beyond the tests of all the pilots, was quite eventful. Finn Valtteri Bottas proceeded with his Alfa Romeo and hit a retaining wall. His accident forced the cranes to enter and paralyzed a good portion of the rehearsal.
Sainz’s day didn’t go well either, along with the other Ferraris. After correctly hitting a fence and causing a cut to his head before he could even get in the car, he sustained a hole that caused him to lose several hours.
The second free practice will take place at 5:30 pm (7:30 pm in Argentina).
Photo: EFE
Source: Clarin
