Mercedes stars face setback at Miami GP as drama occured during during…. See details via link
Miami Grand Prix kicked off with an extended and somewhat unusual 90-minute practice session on Friday, giving teams extra time to prepare for the sprint race weekend. With recent disruptions to the calendar, including the cancellation of races, this additional session proved valuable for fine-tuning performance upgrades.
Despite the longer session, the track action remained largely calm—until late drama struck Mercedes. Rookie driver Kimi Antonelli encountered a power unit problem that forced him to end his session early, preventing him from completing an important qualifying simulation on soft tyres. This technical setback raised concerns for Mercedes heading into the competitive sessions.
His teammate, George Russell, also failed to impress, finishing only sixth and trailing the session leader by a significant margin—over 0.7 seconds.
At the front, Charles Leclerc delivered a strong performance for Ferrari, setting the fastest lap with a time of 1:29.310. He was followed by Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing and Oscar Piastri of McLaren, who secured second and third positions respectively.
Another highlight of the session was Red Bull Racing unveiling a new rear wing design—nicknamed the “Macarena”—which demonstrated a more aggressive flex compared to Ferrari’s version, potentially hinting at aerodynamic gains.
Elsewhere, Lewis Hamilton, now driving for Ferrari, placed fourth, while McLaren’s Lando Norris managed seventh. The rest of the grid saw a mix of competitive and underwhelming performances as teams continued to adjust setups.
Overall, while Ferrari looked sharp and Red Bull innovative, Mercedes faced early warning signs that could impact their Miami Grand Prix campaign.