Russell, Leclerc and Verstappen follow closely in tight session as upgrades and high temps set the tone for the Sprint weekend.
The sixth race weekend of the 2025 Formula 1 season is underway, starting with the only Free Practice session at the Miami Grand Prix. While there’s talk of rain and potential storms later in the weekend, Friday opened under sunny skies at the Hard Rock Stadium circuit.
This single session holds extra weight as it leads straight into the Sprint Shootout later today, setting the grid for Saturday’s Sprint. To spice things up, the FIA has extended the DRS zone before Turn 11 by 75 meters, hoping to boost overtaking action. The activation point remains just before the high-speed Turn 9.
Helmet Talk and Tech Updates
At 6:15pm, Lando Norris debuted a flashy new helmet styled like a disco ball—but it’s all vinyl, no real mirrors, unlike the concept version shown earlier. Meanwhile, six teams have rolled out upgrades for Miami. Red Bull rushed a new floor through last-minute approval. Mercedes is running a circuit-specific rear wing, and Aston Martin brought redesigned front and rear wings along with a custom beam wing. Alpine made changes to its suspension and front brake ducts, Williams added a Miami-only beam wing, and Sauber also tweaked its front suspension.
Personal Milestones and Special Liveries
Red Bull boss Christian Horner congratulated Max Verstappen and Kelly Piquet on the birth of their daughter, Lily, joking that Max should get ready for sleepless nights and diaper duty. Verstappen responded warmly, calling the experience “very special” and hinted at future family sim racing sessions.
Three teams are also running special liveries this weekend. Ferrari marks one year with HP with a striking new design. Racing Bulls turned heads with neon pink colors for an energy drink promo, and Sauber is sporting its most vibrant look yet.
Storm Watch and Track Conditions
Rain isn’t the only concern now—there’s a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms during Sunday’s race. For now, though, it’s hot. Track temps hit 38°C with 27°C ambient, and some light cloud cover overhead.
Early Action: Rapid Laps and Tight Margins
With just one hour of practice, all 20 drivers hit the track quickly. Most opted for medium tires, though Aston Martin and Racing Bulls ran hards. Oscar Piastri set the first benchmark lap at 1:30.059. Norris had an unknown device in his cockpit that’s caught the FIA’s attention, and Yuki Tsunoda complained about his seat position.
Verstappen took the early lead with a 1:28.634, but it was a back-and-forth battle from there. George Russell, Carlos Sainz, and Charles Leclerc all traded fastest times. Norris jumped to the top with a 1:28.391, but Russell pushed even harder, clocking a 1:28.058—despite a wild moment at the chicane.
Miami’s Future Secured
Off-track, Miami sealed a historic extension, becoming the first F1 venue with a contract running past 2040. Expect this glitzy race to stick around for the long haul.
New Faces Impress, Red Flags End Session
Young talents like Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman continued to impress. Antonelli slotted into second behind Russell, and Isack Hadjar briefly joined the top 10.
Soft tires came out in the final 20 minutes, and the leaderboard shifted again. Sainz briefly led with a 1:27.678, before Verstappen and then Leclerc took turns at the top. But it was Piastri who delivered the standout lap—1:27.128 to close the session.
Just as Norris was about to top that time, a yellow and then red flag ended the session early. Bearman crashed lightly into the wall with his Haas, bringing things to a premature halt. Thankfully, he walked away unharmed and the car wasn’t seriously damaged.
7:30 PM: The session is officially over and did not resume after Bearman’s crash.
Piastri sets the fastest time in Free Practice, with a solid gap to Leclerc and Verstappen. Sainz and Albon highlight Williams’ strong form, while Hadjar positions himself well with Racing Bulls.
Russell and Antonelli, seventh and ninth, sandwich Tsunoda and didn’t run on soft tyres, suggesting Mercedes may be strong this weekend in Miami. Alonso completes the top 10 ahead of Lawson and Norris, who couldn’t improve on softs—same for Hamilton. Gasly, 17th, and Ocon, 18th, were also unable to improve.
Join us at 10:15 PM to follow Sprint qualifying live together!
2025 F1 Miami Grand Prix – Practice Results
| Pos | Driver | Team | Time |
| 1 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren F1 Team | 1m27.128s |
| 2 | Charles Leclerc | Scuderia Ferrari HP | 1m27.484s |
| 3 | Max Verstappen | Oracle Red Bull Racing | 1m27.558s |
| 4 | Carlos Sainz | Atlassian Williams Racing | 1m27.678s |
| 5 | Alex Albon | Atlassian Williams Racing | 1m27.955s |
| 6 | Isack Hadjar | Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team | 1m27.968s |
| 7 | George Russell | Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team | 1m28.058s |
| 8 | Yuki Tsunoda | Oracle Red Bull Racing | 1m28.155s |
| 9 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team | 1m28.227s |
| 10 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team | 1m28.243s |
| 11 | Liam Lawson | Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team | 1m28.374s |
| 12 | Lando Norris | McLaren F1 Team | 1m28.391s |
| 13 | Lewis Hamilton | Scuderia Ferrari HP | 1m28.556s |
| 14 | Nico Hulkenberg | Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber | 1m28.573s |
| 15 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber | 1m28.771s |
| 16 | Oliver Bearman | MoneyGram Haas F1 Team | 1m28.996s |
| 17 | Pierre Gasly | BWT Alpine F1 Team | 1m29.084s |
| 18 | Esteban Ocon | MoneyGram Haas F1 Team | 1m29.179s |
| 19 | Jack Doohan | BWT Alpine F1 Team | 1m29.357s |
| 20 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team | 1m29.362s |
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FP1 Results F1 2025: Piastri Tops Miami Opener FP1 Results F1 2025: Piastri Tops Miami Opener