Pérez

Mexican Red Bull driver Sergio Perez set the fastest time during qualifying for the Miami Grand Prix, fifth round of the Formula 1 World Championship, while his Dutch colleague Max Verstappen, world champion in the past two years, will start from ninth place.

Perez scored the second drivers’ ranking behind Verstappen (93 vs. 87), a time of 1:26.841 minutes, ahead of the Spanish veteran Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) and his young compatriot, Ferrari driver Carlos Science.

Danish Haas driver Kevin Magnussen achieved a heavy-caliber surprise by recording the fourth fastest time, in front of Frenchman Pierre Gasly (Alpine).

The other Ferrari driver, Charles Leclerc of Monaco, had an accident a minute and 36 seconds before the end of the third period, which led to red flags being raised with the decision not to complete the tests.

This decision prevented Verstappen, who dominated the free practice periods and the first and second qualifying periods, from going out to the circuit again to take a quick last lap to compete for the fastest time.

Verstappen, who achieved the fastest time during tests in Bahrain and Australia, had already started from fifteenth place in the Jeddah race in Saudi Arabia due to a mechanical problem, to succeed in finishing the race in second place behind his teammate Perez.

The Red Bull team has dominated the championship capabilities since the start of the competition, as its drivers share the victory with Verstappen in Bahrain and Australia and Perez in Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan.

British Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, world champion 7 times, was also the biggest loser in Miami, as he failed to pass the second period, contenting himself with 13th place at the starting line of Sunday’s race.

The following is the timing of the third period of qualifying trials:

1. Sergio Perez (Mexico / Red Bull) 1:26.841 d.

2. Fernando Alonso (Spain / Aston Martin) 1:27.202 d.

3. Carlos Science (Spain/Ferrari) 1:27.349 d.

4. Kevin Magnussen (Denmark / Haas) 1:27.767 d.

5. Pierre Gasly (France / Alpine) 1:27.786 d.

6. George Russell (Britain / Mercedes) 1:27.804 d.

7. Charles Leclerc (Monaco / Ferrari) 1:27.861 d.

8. Esteban Ocon (France / Alpine) 1:27.935 d.

9. Max Verstappen (Netherlands/Red Bull) without a time

10. Valtteri Bottas (Finland/Alfa Romeo-Ferrari) without a time