Have McLaren made another leap? Norris’ charge from ninth will be revealing · RaceFans

The Miami Grand Prix is hosting a sprint race for the first time in its short history. As a circuit, it feels almost purpose-made for the current sprint format which aims to provide entertainment for the ticketholders who will flock to the Miami Dolphins stadium.

Max Verstappen may have secured pole position in sprint qualifying, but it clearly came as a genuine surprise to the world champion after a somewhat untidy final lap in his Red Bull yesterday.

With Charles Leclerc starting alongside the Red Bull, rebounding superbly from his faux pas in first practice, could Verstappen face more pressure for victory over the 19-lap sprint race than he did in Shanghai?

Weather

Earlier in the week, initial forecasts predicted that there was a small but serious risk that rain could fall over the Miami Gardens area prior to the sprint race. However, that risk appears to have reduced over time and it seems likely today’s race will be dry.

Conditions are expected to be similar to Friday’s practice, with temperatures just under 30C. The flat, open area of the Hard Rock Stadium campus does leave drivers more exposed to wind than other circuits on the calendar, with many drivers complaining of being caught out by gusts during yesterday’s practice session. However, it is unlikely that drivers will be facing anything more severe than what they’ve experienced on Friday during this first race of the weekend.

Start

There have only been two previous starts at the Miami International Autodrome. The run from pole position to the first corner measures just 250 metres, one of the shortest sprints to turn one on the calendar.

So it’s little surprise that on both previous occasions the pole-winner has held the lead on the opening lap. Last year, the top three starters for the grand prix each retained their positions. Pole position is located on the racing line on the left-hand side of the grid, meaning Leclerc could have a chance to dive up the inside if Verstappen struggles to get off the line well. But given how rarely the world champion gives up the lead off the line, that seems somewhat unlikely.

Although the front of the field tends to be more well behaved off the line in Miami, there is a real risk facing drivers back in the pack due to the slow first corner immediately followed by turns two and three, which creates a bottleneck effect. Last year, Nyck de Vries whacked into Lando Norris’s McLaren into the first corner…