Australian leads disrupted practice session as Miami secures long-term spot on F1 calendar

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri topped the timesheets in a disrupted opening practice session at the Miami Grand Prix, ahead of this weekend’s second sprint event of the Formula 1 season.

Piastri set the fastest lap of the session at the Miami International Autodrome, finishing 0.356 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, returning to the paddock following the birth of his daughter Lily, secured third.

The session was cut short with four minutes remaining after British rookie Oliver Bearman spun his Haas into the barriers at Turns 11 and 12. The incident triggered a red flag and brought an early end to the day’s first on-track action.

The crash denied several drivers a final push on soft tyres. Lando Norris, in the second McLaren, was one of those affected and could only manage 12th on the timing sheets. Mercedes’ George Russell, who had been leading before the soft-tyre runs began, slipped to seventh.

Carlos Sainz, driving for Williams, impressed with fourth place, followed by team-mate Alex Albon. Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar was sixth, while Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda placed eighth.

Mercedes’ young talent Andrea Kimi Antonelli took ninth, just ahead of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, another who missed a soft-tyre run, finished the session in 13th.

This weekend marks the second sprint format of the 2025 season, with sprint qualifying scheduled for 21:30 BST Friday. The Miami GP itself is set to begin at 21:00 BST on Sunday.

In a significant development, organizers announced a contract extension that will keep the Miami Grand Prix on the F1 calendar through 2041.

Coverage of the weekend will be available on BBC platforms, including live commentary, radio broadcasts, and online updates.