Alonso starts on front row in Miami but win a long shot

MIAMI : Fernando Alonso will start the Miami Grand Prix on the front row alongside pole sitter Sergio Perez, providing Aston Martin the chance for a win, believes team principal Mike Krack.

Alonso, however, does not quite see the same opportunity and expects to have a hard-charging Max Verstappen's Red Bull filling his mirrors by the midway point of the 57-lap race on the 3.36 mile (5.41km) temporary street circuit around Hard Rock Stadium, the home of the NFL's Miami Dolphins.

The Red Bulls of Verstappen and Perez have been in a league of their own this season winning every grand prix, with three of the four races one-two finishes.

While the Aston Martins have shown plenty of pace as well, Alonso's appearance on the front row has as much to do with a bit of good fortune for the Spaniard combined with bad luck for Verstappen.

The Dutchman, who had dominated practice in Miami, looked almost certain to take pole but was unable to complete his final flying lap after Ferrari's Charles Leclerc crashed with a minute and 36 seconds remaining bringing an end to the qualifying.

"The opportunity is there if you start from the front row," assured Krack after Saturday's qualifying. " If you start from the first row your aim has to be to win the race.

"We have strong competitors who didn't get it all together today except Sergio but we will try and give it our best."

Verstappen, last year's winner in Miami, will start ninth but Alonso guessed that he will see him on his exhaust by lap 25.

With a slim six-point lead over Perez in the drivers standings Verstappen was clear he will be on the charge from lights out on Sunday.

Asked what result he was expecting the double world champion set the target at, "Minimum is P2."

Alonso's team mate Lance