Miami GP Practice Cut Short By Crash, Piastri Fastest

Oscar Piastri set the fastest lap in Miami GP practice. His time was faster than Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen, but the session was cut short by a crash.
By Newsroom | Formula 1, Miami |

Miami International Autodrome - Oscar Piastri of McLaren carved out the fastest time during the sole practice session for the Miami Grand Prix, a session notably curtailed by an incident involving Ollie Bearman. The Australian’s pace was set before a late crash by the Haas driver brought proceedings to a halt with just five minutes remaining, denying several competitors a chance at a representative lap on soft tires.

F1 drivers given extra practice time for Miami GP Sprint weekend - 1

The disruption meant teams and drivers had a severely limited window, precisely one hour, to acclimatize to the circuit and fine-tune their machines ahead of the day’s Sprint Qualifying. This brevity is amplified by the weekend’s adherence to the ‘Sprint format’, a structure that inherently constricts practice time. The session's conclusion saw Piastri ahead of Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen, though many drivers were left with less than ideal data acquisition due to the premature stoppage.

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F1 drivers given extra practice time for Miami GP Sprint weekend - 2

Practice Session Extended Amidst Sprint Format Constraints

In a bid to compensate for the reduced track time inherent in a 'Sprint weekend', the initial Free Practice 1 session at Miami has been extended to 90 minutes. This decision, reached after consultations with all involved parties, acknowledges the gap since the last Grand Prix and the recent technical adjustments impacting the sport.

However, the actual impact of this extended provision was diminished by the aforementioned crash. Several drivers, including George Russell, Yuki Tsunoda, and Kimi Antonelli, had their late-session runs compromised. Notably, Max Verstappen was seen testing Red Bull’s updated floor configuration during the session, his performance potentially unaffected by the disruption for the most part. Lando Norris, meanwhile, experienced an early setback with reported loose components in his car.

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The Sprint Weekend Structure

The Miami Grand Prix operates under the 'Sprint format', a condensed schedule that features a shorter race on Saturday. This structure compresses the typical practice and qualifying elements, with Sprint Qualifying now occurring on Friday afternoon to set the grid for the Sprint race. Traditional qualifying for the main Grand Prix takes place on Saturday afternoon, with the Grand Prix itself scheduled for Sunday. The limited practice time on Friday is a recurring theme in these events, with teams often grappling for crucial setup data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who was the fastest driver in the Miami GP practice session on April 23, 2026?
Oscar Piastri from McLaren set the fastest lap time during the sole practice session for the Miami Grand Prix on April 23, 2026. He was faster than Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen.
Q: Why was the Miami GP practice session stopped early on April 23, 2026?
The practice session was stopped with red flags due to a crash involving Haas driver Ollie Bearman. This happened with only five minutes left in the session, cutting short valuable track time for many drivers.
Q: How did the red flags affect drivers in the Miami GP practice on April 23, 2026?
The early stoppage meant drivers had very limited time to get used to the circuit and set up their cars. Many competitors did not get a chance to do representative laps on soft tires, leading to less ideal data for teams.
Q: What is the Sprint format at the Miami Grand Prix and how does it affect practice time?
The Miami Grand Prix is using the 'Sprint format', which means practice time is very limited. Sprint Qualifying happens on Friday afternoon to set the grid for the Sprint race, and traditional qualifying for the main Grand Prix is on Saturday.
Q: Were there any specific team updates tested during the disrupted Miami GP practice on April 23, 2026?
Yes, Max Verstappen was seen testing Red Bull's updated floor configuration during the session. Lando Norris had an early issue with reported loose components on his car.