BREAKING: Lewis Hamilton Suffers Major Blow as Late Crash Brings Out R…read more
Lewis Hamilton Suffers Major Blow as Late Crash Brings Out Red Flag at Miami Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton’s challenging transition to Ferrari took another turn for the worse during Friday’s opening practice at the Miami Grand Prix, where a late-session crash forced an early end to running.
The incident occurred when Haas rookie Ollie Bearman lost control at Turn 12, slamming into the barriers and bringing out the red flag with just minutes remaining. The stoppage ruined final flying lap attempts, leaving several drivers including McLaren’s Lando Norris stranded outside the top 10.
Mixed Fortunes for British Stars
While Oscar Piastri set the pace for McLaren with a rapid 1:27.128, teammate Norris was left frustrated in 12th after the red flag halted his last push. Hamilton fared even worse, ending up 13th a worrying sign for the seven-time champion, who is still seeking the same form that delivered his breakthrough Ferrari win in China earlier this season.
Norris’ session was further complicated by an unusual team error a forgotten flashlight left in his cockpit forced an unscheduled pit stop. McLaren now faces a stewards’ investigation over a potential unsafe car release.
Top Three Tight at the Front
Piastri led a competitive trio at the sharp end, with Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and Max Verstappen (Red Bull) within half a second. Williams impressed with Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon in fourth and fifth, while Bearman’s crash left him 16th in the standings.
FP1 Standings (Top 5):
🥇 **O. Piastri (McLaren)– 1:27.128
🥈 C. Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.356
🥉 M. Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.430
4 C. Sainz (Williams) +0.550
5 A. Albon (Williams) +0.827
Sprint Qualifying Up Next
With only one practice session before Sprint Qualifying, teams have little time to refine setups. All eyes will be on whether Hamilton and Ferrari can rebound or if Piastri and McLaren can maintain their early edge.
Reigning champion Verstappen remains the favorite, but with surprises up and down the grid, Miami’s unique challenge could shake up the order.
