Mercedes’ George Russell emerged quickest in Friday Practice for 2022 Miami Grand Prix following three separate red flag incidents.
Leclerc topped FP1 in a session where everyone focused on data gathering and understanding the new circuit, yet when it came to the crunch in FP2 it was Russell who stole the limelight as Mercedes benefitted from fresh competitive upgrades.
Max Verstappen meanwhile endured a difficult day as he struggled to keep his Red Bull on track at times, before mechanical issues meant that he only completed one chaotic lap in FP2 to leave him on the backfoot heading into Saturday.
Now here is a full roundup of FP1 and FP2 action.
FP1
Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll was the first driver to venture out onto the Miami International Autodrome once the lights went green, as he proceeded to set a benchmark lap time of 1m 39.513 which was quickly displaced by several drivers.
Verstappen emerged fastest at the end of the opening fliers with 1m 36.099 on soft tyres but Tsunoda and Leclerc swiftly displaced him, only for the pair to separately spin moments later on different parts of the circuit.
Everyone however was on high-fuel opening runs which meant that there were further switches of top position between Verstappen, Leclerc, Sainz and Perez, whilst Mercedes’ George Russell briefly went second and 0.001 seconds slower than Leclerc.
Sainz eventually led at the half-hour mark ahead of Leclerc after posting 1m 32.443 in the 28th minute as both Ferrari drivers set their fastest laps on the medium tyres, ahead of Lando Norris who slotted into third for McLaren on soft tyres.
Mercedes have brought upgrades for this race which seemed to pay off as Hamilton went second in the 35th minute, just moments before the red flag was waved after Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas spun out at Turn Seven into the barriers.
The damage to Bottas’ car consequently prevented him from participating in FP2.
The session resumed nine minutes later and there was immediate drama as Sainz suffered a huge lock-up at Turn Four, which caused a puncture to his soft front right tyre and left the Spaniard completing the session on medium tyres.
Come the checkered flag, Leclerc emerged fastest after he delivered a late flier to clinch top position with 1m 31.098 ahead of Russell who was 0.071s behind in second, with Verstappen third-fastest ahead of Sergio Perez, Pierre Gasly, Sainz, Alex Albon, Hamilton, Kevin Magnussen and Daniel Ricciardo.
| Position | Driver | Team | Time |
| 1 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1m 31.098 |
| 2 | George Russell | Mercedes | + 0.071 |
| 3 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | + 0.179 |
| 4 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull | + 0.203 |
| 5 | Pierre Gasly | AlphaTauri | + 0.400 |
| 6 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | + 0.430 |
| 7 | Alex Albon | Williams | + 0.756 |
| 8 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | + 0.858 |
| 9 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas | + 1.461 |
| 10 | Daniel Ricciardo | McLaren | + 1.494 |
| 11 | Lando Norris | McLaren | + 1.517 |
| 12 | Fernando Alonso | Alpine | + 1.786 |
| 13 | Guanyu Zhou | Alfa Romeo | + 1.922 |
| 14 | Sebastian Vettel | Aston Martin | + 1.926 |
| 15 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine | + 2.319 |
| 16 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | + 2.478 |
| 17 | Valtteri Bottas | Alfa Romeo | + 2.675 |
| 18 | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri | + 2.945 |
| 19 | Mick Schumacher | Haas | + 3.847 |
| 20 | Nicholas Latifi | Williams | + 4.539 |
FP2
Williams’ Nicholas Latifi was the first driver to head out on track in FP2 but it was Alpine’s Esteban Ocon who set the initial pace on mediums with 1m 32.906 until he was displaced by Fernando Alonso with 1m 32.094 minutes later.
Sainz however immediately displaced his Spanish compatriot by 0.631s only to be displaced by Leclerc briefly in the 11th minute, which he swiftly bettered with 1m 30.964 until he crashed heavily at Turn 14 in the 18th minute to prematurely halt his session.
Once the session resumed after a 12 minute stoppage, all drivers left in the session ventured out for a soft tyre qualifying simulation – including Verstappen who had been stuck in his garage for the opening half-hour with an issue.
Verstappen however quickly encountered hydraulics issues which triggered mayhem as he scrapped to get his Red Bull safely back to the pit lane amidst steering and rear brake issues, whilst other drivers like Lance Stroll had to take avoiding action.
Russell eventually emerged quickest with 1m 29.928 ahead of Leclerc, Perez, Hamilton, Alonso, Norris, Gasly, Guanyu Zhou, Ocon and Magnussen.
There was one further red flag as Latifi lost drive in the 48th minute but the session resumed three minutes later with no further incidents, except for a spin for Magnussen in the penultimate minute.
| Position | Driver | Team | Time |
| 1 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1m 29.938 |
| 2 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | + 0.106 |
| 3 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull | + 0.212 |
| 4 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | + 0.241 |
| 5 | Fernando Alonso | Alpine | + 0.434 |
| 6 | Lando Norris | McLaren | + 0.597 |
| 7 | Pierre Gasly | AlphaTauri | + 0.609 |
| 8 | Guanyu Zhou | Alfa Romeo | + 0.922 |
| 9 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine | + 0.923 |
| 10 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas | + 0.983 |
| 11 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | + 1.026 |
| 12 | Daniel Ricciardo | McLaren | + 1.270 |
| 13 | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri | + 1.322 |
| 14 | Sebastian Vettel | Aston Martin | + 1.455 |
| 15 | Mick Schumacher | Haas | + 1.649 |
| 16 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | + 1.693 |
| 17 | Alex Albon | Williams | + 1.772 |
| 18 | Nicholas Latifi | Williams | + 2.975 |
| 19 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | No Time Set |
| 20 | Valtteri Bottas | Alfa Romeo | No Time Set |
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