#sprint qualifying

[lealu]

Red Bull, I need you to fucking lock in for Max. I can’t handle another season of devastation and Max haters on my back.

[adventuresofyarndoandyarnscar]

Miami Grand Prix - Sprint Qualifying

(Weekend Preview | FP1 Recap)

At a glance:

Lando

P1 - 1:27.869

Top speed (at speed trap): 322 kph

Oscar

P3 - 1:28.108 (+0.239)

Top speed (at speed trap): 324 kph

Key Takeaways:

Applied learning from FP1 - Since practice, McLaren swapped out the engine cover in favored for a louvered design that was brought as an alternative in case additional cooling was needed. Some changes to the rear were also visible, likely the result of testing of one upgrade option during practice that was found not to perform as well as desired. The increase in performance from practice to this session was noticeable, and the upgrades the team have brought appear to be paying off in general.

Hot track, hotter tires - With track temperatures exceeding 50 degrees, the tires tend to overheat easily, which reduces grip, increases degradation, and can result in lost time on a lap. Teams changed strategy from single cool in SQ1 to double cool in SQ2 to keep tires within a good temperature window. Both these sessions were done on medium tires, but SQ3 is required to be done on softs (just like Q3 in regular quali), which changed the tactics once again, turning SQ3 into a single-lap shootout.

Upgrades definitely working - While Mercedes won't be bringing their major upgrades until Canada, it is clearly evident that the upgrades that McLaren brought are doing what was promised to close the gap to Mercedes. Ferrari and Red Bull's upgrades also appear to be paying dividends, but both of these teams don't quite seem to have their upgrades dialed in the same way as McLaren has. That said, Red Bull have definitely brought themselves back into the fight near the top with these upgrades.

I'm experimenting once again with a new format for quali posts, dropping in quick notes from each session along with the results. You might just have to be at peace with the fact that I'm going to do these recaps in whatever way feels most convenient.

SQ1

Stroll's lockup in the final corner during SQ1 caused a yellow flag impacting both Lando's and Oscar's first push lap (as well as the first attempt of several other drivers). On their second push lap attempt, Lando and Oscar were briefly 1-2 with Lando nearly half a second up before Leclerc bested Oscar's time by 0.01s just before the end of SQ1.

SQ2

On their first pushes in SQ2, Oscar went 2nd and Lando went 7th with about 0.8 seconds between them. Track temperatures are making it hard to keep tire temperatures in an ideal window, and it's causing difficulties with grip. This impacted Lando's first push lap, as he slid around a bit through the low-speed corners, costing him time. Oscar opted to return to the garage after setting his first time, as it was more than adequate to make it through to SQ3. Lando meant to make a second attempt but was deemed safe and did not push a second time.

SQ3

With the soft compound being even harder to get back into a good temperature window than the mediums used in SQ1 and SQ2 after a push lap, SQ3 turned into a single-lap shootout. SQ3 is only 8 minutes long, and that's barely enough time for a push-cool-push. As SQ2 demonstrated, a double cool was necessary to keep even mediums within a good window. Teams waited until there were only four and a half minutes left to start going out, leaving just enough time for an outlap and a push lap. Lando and Oscar looked to have a front row lockout at first, but Oscar got pipped at the last moment by Antonelli. The McLarens will still be starting P1 and P3, which feels really good after their early struggles.

Official Recaps

Formula 1 Sprint Quali Live Blog | Formula 1 Sprint Quali recap

McLaren Friday Report

As always, to get more details on what happened across the whole of the grid and/or take a deeper dive on McLaren's running, you can hit the links above. If you have any questions or comments specifically about sprint qualifying, drop them in the comments instead of sending an ask so we can keep all the information about this session in one place. If you've got more general questions about upgrades, regulations, or anything else, you can send an ask!

[rosso-corsa-knight]

how tf are ferrari with their weakass engine good in the last sector in silverstone

[ojos-ferrari]

yuki spin, max twirl (?), charles spin, lewis spin... all my favorites spinning like a ballerina

[afterredlights]

FUUUUUCCCCCCCK

George is P4

Max is P6

Charles is P8

For fucks sake, what the fuck is going on you three?!

Also, Kimi Antonelli is up on P2.... So! Kimi, darling, you have a mission.

Deny MCL a win. That's all you need to do, son. That's all. You'll be up against the two MCLs, that'd be difficult, I know.

Remember what Abbi Pulling said, "They (McLaren) are bound to make mistakes. It'd be their downfall." REMEMBER, SON.

go be a fucking menace on the sprint. Do it for mama and papa. Do it for us *sobs*

You're our hope, Kimi!!!

[imtyred]

"the belgian sprint q1 result isn't real, it can't hurt you" the belgian sprint q1 result:

[straw-berry-dream]

P1 SPRINT QUALIFYING FOR MY GOAT GEORGE RUSSELL!!! LET'S FUCKING GO, BABY!!! KEEP IT UP BROOO!!! KEEP IMPROVING!!!

[goldfish-in-a-bowl]

GUESS WHO SPLIT THE MCLARENS AND IS STARING P2 IN THE SPRINT RACE THIS GUY🦁🧡🫶