

The Miami sun was blazing, the track temperature soared to a sweltering 48.3°C, and the humidity hovered at 50% as Formula 1âs sixth round of the 2025 season kicked off with Practice 1 at the Miami Grand Prix. The anticipation was palpable, with the paddock still buzzing from Oscar Piastriâs dramatic victory in Jeddah and the ever-tightening championship fight. But as the session unfolded, it was the Miami circuit itselfâand a series of incidents and red flagsâthat stole the headlines, setting the stage for a weekend that promises unpredictability and high drama.
From the moment the pit lane opened, it was clear that the Miami International Autodrome would be a stern test for both man and machine. With air temperatures at 28.3°C and the track surface a blistering 48.3°C, teams immediately turned their attention to tire management and cooling solutions. The wind, blowing at a modest 2.6 km/h from the southeast, offered little respite.
Drivers emerged for their installation laps, many reporting slippery conditions and a lack of grip as the circuit rubbered in. The softest compounds in Pirelliâs rangeâC3, C4, and C5âwere on offer, and teams wasted no time in gathering crucial data on tire degradation and performance windows.
The session was barely underway when the first signs of trouble appeared. Lando Norris, fresh from a bruising but impressive recovery drive in Jeddah, was among the first to report issues. Over the radio, Norris complained, âYeah, thereâs justâyouâve left like so many tools in the cockpit. Everythingâs just falling apart. I have to box this lap.â The McLaren crew scrambled to address the cockpit chaos, costing Norris valuable track time.
Elsewhere, Yuki Tsunoda reported an unusual seating position: âI feel like the seat height is quite high somehow.â The Red Bull garage acknowledged the feedback, but it was a sign of the small but significant setup challenges teams faced in the Miami heat.
George Russell, meanwhile, was vocal about his Mercedesâ handling: âI donât know whatâs going on, the car feels so different. Steering is exceptionally heavy.â The team confirmed the issue, and Russellâs session became a test of adaptation as he sought to find a rhythm.
The first major disruption came with a double yellow in Sector 7, quickly followed by another in Sector 13. Moments later, the session was red-flagged. The cause: Oliver Bearmanâs Haas had come to grief, with Bearman apologizing over the radio, âAh man, this⊠Sorry. Itâs okay, are you okay? Yeah, Iâm fine, just sorry.â The incident brought the session to a halt as marshals cleared the stricken car and debris.
The red flag period lasted several minutes, with teams forced to reassess their run plans. The Miami circuit, notorious for its unforgiving walls and limited runoff, once again proved that even in practice, the margin for error is razor-thin.
As the session wore on, the stewards were kept busy. Two separate incidents involving Lando Norris were noted for post-session investigation. The first, an âunsafe conditionâ involving Norrisâs McLaren, was flagged early in the session. Later, an incident at Turn 17 involving Esteban Ocon and Norris was also noted for impeding, with the stewards confirming both would be investigated after the session.
Despite the disruptions, several drivers managed to post competitive times. Oscar Piastri, the new championship leader after his Jeddah triumph, continued his fine form by topping the session with a best lap of 1:27.128 on the soft compound. The McLaren looked well-balanced, and Piastriâs confidence was evident, though he did radio in to request a check on his right-side tires after a brush with the wall: âJust check the right side tyres, still a little warm for the wall.â
Charles Leclerc slotted into second for Ferrari, just 0.356s adrift, while Max Verstappen was third, a further 0.074s back. The top three were separated by less than half a second, suggesting another closely-fought weekend at the sharp end.
Carlos Sainz, in the Williams, continued his resurgence with the fourth-fastest time, while Alexander Albon rounded out the top five, underlining Williamsâ improved pace in 2025.
Isack Hadjar impressed for Racing Bulls, finishing sixth and showing that the teamâs upgrades may be starting to pay dividends. George Russell, despite his handling complaints, managed seventh, while Yuki Tsunoda, Kimi Antonelli, and Fernando Alonso completed the top ten.
Further down the order, Lando Norrisâs disrupted session left him 12th, while Lewis Hamilton, still searching for answers in his Ferrari, was 13th. Rookie Gabriel Bortoleto was 15th for Kick Sauber, and Oliver Bearman, despite his crash, managed 16th for Haas.
The Miami circuitâs challenges were reflected in the team radio chatter. Norrisâs frustration with his cockpit setup, Russellâs complaints about steering weight, and Tsunodaâs seat height issues all pointed to the fine margins teams are working with in 2025.
Bearmanâs apologetic tone after his crash was a reminder of the pressure on rookies to deliver in a high-stakes environment, while Piastriâs calm request for a tire check showed the maturity that has propelled him to the top of the standings.
Oscar Piastriâs pace at the top of the timesheets confirms that McLarenâs momentum from Jeddah has carried over to Miami. The car looks quick on both short and long runs, and Piastriâs confidence is sky-high. Lando Norrisâs session was compromised, but if McLaren can iron out the operational gremlins, they look set to challenge for pole and victory once again.
Charles Leclercâs strong showing suggests Ferrari are in the hunt for their first win of the season, while Max Verstappenâs third placeâdespite a session interrupted by debris and setup tweaksâmeans Red Bull cannot be discounted. The battle between these three teams is as close as it has been all year.
Mercedes had a mixed session, with Russellâs handling issues and Antonelliâs adaptation to the Miami circuit both under scrutiny. Williams, on the other hand, continue to impress, with Sainz and Albon both in the top five. The Grove-based teamâs progress is one of the stories of the season so far.
The frequency of red flags and the number of incidents under investigation are a warning sign for qualifying. The Miami circuit punishes mistakes, and with the field so closely matched, track position and clean laps will be at a premium.
Stay tuned for more updates as the Miami Grand Prix weekend unfoldsâif Practice 1 is anything to go by, weâre in for a wild ride in the Magic City.

Heâs a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.
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