Miami F1 GP drama as Leclerc crash hands Pérez pole while Hamilton suffers

Lewis Hamilton will start Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix from 13th after a qualifying session to forget for the seven-time world champion in the United States, as Sergio Pérez took a surprise pole position after Charles Leclerc’s late crash resulted in a red flag to leave Max Verstappen ninth on the grid.

Fernando Alonso joins Pérez on the front row following another impressive display by the evergreen Spaniard, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz third. Kevin Magnussen qualified fourth for Haas ahead of Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Russell. Leclerc, who broke his rear wing in the accident at Turn 8, qualified seventh.

Hamilton ended Q2 an eye-watering 1.1sec off the pace and two tenths down on team-mate Russell. The seven-time world champion, who returned to the pits shaking his head, took aim at Mercedes for leaving him with too much to do at the Hard Rock Stadium.

“We left that way too late, guys,” he said over the radio. Hamilton now trails his teammate Russell 4-1 in qualifying after the opening five rounds.

Hamilton, already 45 points behind the championship leader, Verstappen, started Saturday’s running on the backfoot following a near-miss with Haas driver Kevin Magnussen. The 38-year-old was on his first speedy lap of the afternoon when he was blocked by the Dane under braking at Turn 17. Hamilton was forced to take evasive action, brushing the barriers in the process.

“Check the front wing”, said the Mercedes driver, who swiftly dived into the pits for repairs. “I just hit the wall.” The incident will be investigated by the stewards.

Hamilton’s afternoon then took another major setback following a scruffy lap, leaving him way down the order for Sunday’s 57-lap race.

Verstappen looked set to secure pole after dominating