Miami Grand Prix qualifying red flag leaves Max Verstappen in ninth as Sergio Perez takes pole for Red Bull

Max Verstappen will start the Miami Grand Prix in ninth and Lewis Hamilton in 13th, with Sergio Perez on pole for Red Bull.

Verstappen had been quickest in the day’s earlier practice session, with Leclerc second and last weekend’s winner in Baku, Perez, third.

With Hamilton well off the pace in FP3, and George Russell only 10th, it did not look set to be an easy session for the Mercedes duo.

It proved to be trying from the off, as Hamilton managed to clip the wall on his slow lap as he closed in on Kevin Magnussen.

The former world champion was far from at his best at the early stage, and needed his last flying lap to get him out of the danger zone and squeak into Q2.

Instead, Lando Norris (McLaren), Yuki Tsunoda (Alpha Tauri), Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), Oscar Piastri (McLaren) and Logan Sargeant (Williams) dropped out.

Hamilton and Russell were once again in the danger zone as the second session drew to a close, meaning once again the pressure was on to have a chance of a decent position on the grid for Sunday’s race.

While Russell pulled through, Hamilton failed to make the cut and was joined by Alex Albon (Williams), Nico Hulkenberg (Haas), Zhou Gunayu (Alfa Romeo) and Nyck de Vries (Alpha Tauri). Hamilton rued his effort, telling his team: “I left that way too late, guys.”

While Hamilton will be hugely disappointed, there will be regret at rivals Red Bull, too.

In the early stages of Q3 Verstappen made a mess of a runout and before he could get back out for another flying lpa, a huge spin for Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc brought out the red flag, bringing the day’s events to a close and costing him the chance of a second successive start from the front of the grid.

That left Perez sitting on pole, Fernando Alonso in second spot, and Carlos Sainz in third. Russell took sixth, and Leclerc was unable to improve upon seventh.