Leclerc spin leaves Perez in pole and Verstappen starting P9 for Miami Grand Prix
36 minutes ago

Sergio Perez took pole position for the 2023 Miami Grand Prix after a dramatic conclusion to Q3, which saw Max Verstappen qualify ninth as Charles Leclerc spun out to bring out a red flag.

The top-10 shootout saw seven teams represented and, while Verstappen had topped the first two qualifying segments, he aborted his first lap with a snap at Turn 5. Conditions were tough in the final session as winds had picked up. Perez took provisional pole in Q3 with a time of 1m 26.841s, but there was still time for Verstappen to try again.

The reigning champion equipped new tyres and emerged with just over three minutes left in an effort to make it up from P10. However, Leclerc lost his car at Turn 4 and spun into the barriers, bringing out a red flag and ending qualifying early.

That left Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso in P2 for the race while Carlos Sainz qualified third for Ferrari and Kevin Magnussen was a surprise fourth for Haas. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly took P5 ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell, leaving Leclerc seventh and Esteban Ocon eighth in the other Alpine.

As for Verstappen he qualified ninth ahead of Valtteri Bottas – neither driver having set a flying lap in Q3.