The first three classified in the parc fermé (from left to right) are Charles Leclerc from Ferrari in second place, Max Verstappen from Red Bull Racing in pole position, and Carlos Sainz Jr. from Ferrari in third place. This took place at the Formula 1 World Championship, Round 6, Miami Grand Prix on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at the Miami International Autodrome in Miami, Florida, USA.
Leclerc, from Ferrari, believes they can apply “pressure” on Max Verstappen, who secured pole position at the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix on Sunday. The qualifying session on Saturday set the stage for a competition between Verstappen, Leclerc, and Sainz, with Verstappen emerging as the fastest and securing his seventh consecutive pole position (sixth in 2024). Despite Verstappen’s dominance in the recent Formula 1 races, Leclerc remains confident in his chances of winning on Sunday.
Leclerc’s confidence stems from the encouraging signs he observed during his second-place finish in the Sprint race. He acknowledged that Verstappen was not entirely satisfied with his car during the Sprint race, giving hope to Ferrari for the main race. Leclerc mentioned that they made some adjustments on their side and are confident in their progress. If they can maintain a similar pace to what they showed in the morning, Leclerc believes they can apply more pressure through strategic decisions. With both Ferrari cars starting at the front, they see this as a favorable opportunity.
The crucial moment for Ferrari’s chances will come at the start of the race at 4:00 pm local time on Sunday. Securing the lead in the first corner is vital to set up a potential victory in the Grand Prix. Leclerc had the chance to experience this scenario during the Saturday morning session, when he and Verstappen shared the front row. However, he fell behind Verstappen at Turn 1. Leclerc is ready to go on the attack on Sunday, but acknowledges the need for patience throughout the race.
Leclerc recognizes Verstappen’s strong race pace and understands that attacking him will only be possible if there is a genuine opportunity. While he hopes to make a successful overtaking move, he is also willing to be patient and preserve his tires to launch a later attack in the race, if needed. Verstappen has been virtually impenetrable in 2024, except for a brake failure in Melbourne that allowed Leclerc’s teammate, Sainz, to take the victory. Starting in second and third places, Leclerc and Sainz have the perfect opportunity to capitalize on any potential mistakes by Verstappen, who has been leading the pack.
