Given its status as a sprint weekend, the 2025 Miami Grand Prix played host to just a single free practice session. One that saw Oscar Piastri top the time sheets over three-tenths of a second clear of Charles Leclerc in P2, despite flirting with the barriers on more than one occasion. Max Verstappen took third, a further eight-hundredths of a second adrift with the two Williams of Sainz and Albon the standout entries in fourth and fifth respectively. One of the session’s more hair-raising moments involved Lando Norris who, after bedding in his first set of medium tyres, narrowly avoided contact with a slow-moving Esteban Ocon at turn 17. As the session progressed and the lap times began to tumble, Mercedes momentarily led the way, with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli separated by 0.169s.
However, once the soft tires were bolted on, it was Piastri who swiftly settled in at the top of the leaderboard ahead of Leclerc, Verstappen, and the two Williams with Isack Hadjar the session’s quiet sensation. His fastest lap of 1.27.168 being good enough for sixth place. Notably absent from the top three was Lando Norris, the Brit’s session a troubled affair all round. After finding an excess of tools in his cockpit mid-run and nearly running into the back of Ocon, Norris failed to set a representative lap time on the soft tires thanks to a late shunt for Oliver Bearman. The Haas driver lost control at the exit of turn 12 in a seemingly minor moment, which nevertheless sent him spinning into the crash barriers. Having gone purple in sector one just before his compatriots’ off, it's safe to say Norris looked set to capitalise on the early pace McLaren seem to be showing.
As it stands, Norris ended the session 12th, one place ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto managed 14th and 15th respectively for Sauber, with Bearman’s fastest time still good enough for 16th despite his late off. Further back, Pierre Gasly, Esteban Ocon, Jack Doohan, and Lance Stroll rounded off the top 20.
