In a highly competitive practice session for the upcoming Miami Grand Prix, Max Verstappen emerged as the fastest driver, setting the pace on the softest Pirelli (C4) tyre compound. However, his journey to the top was far from smooth.

Verstappen struggled to find the optimal performance from his Red Bull RB20, encountering challenges such as locking the front axle under braking and struggling with the rear end in high-speed sections. Despite these difficulties, Verstappen managed to secure the fastest time with his final flying lap of the session.

The hot track conditions, reaching temperatures of around 54°C, posed additional challenges for the drivers. The tires suffered as a result, struggling to last on a track that demanded careful management of wing levels for optimum straightline speed.

Verstappen's fastest lap, although not clean, still placed him at the top of the timesheets. However, there is a sense that he has more pace in hand, as he didn't extract the full peak of grip during his second attempt on the same set of tires.

Oscar Piastri, the second-fastest driver in the session, can be pleased with his performance. Despite McLaren CEO Zak Brown mentioning that Piastri's car was only running with 50% of the team's substantial set of upgraded parts, he managed to deliver an impressive showing.

On the other hand, Lando Norris, Piastri's teammate, struggled to find his rhythm, finishing only 16th in the session. However, it's important to note that Norris didn't set a time on the softest tire, with his best lap achieved on the hardest compound, placing him within two tenths of Carlos Sainz's Ferrari.

Sainz himself had a strong session, finishing third-fastest overall on the soft tire. This performance is noteworthy, given that he won't be continuing with Ferrari in the upcoming 2025 season. In contrast, his teammate Charles Leclerc had a challenging session, finishing slowest of all after a spin that required a red flag stoppage to retrieve his stranded car.

With Leclerc's lack of proper feel for the circuit and tires, it remains to be seen how he will fare in the sprint qualifying. The Mercedes drivers, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, showed a close battle during the session, with Russell edging ahead by a two-tenths margin at the end on the soft tire to claim the fourth-fastest time overall.

Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and Red Bull's Sergio Perez rounded out the top six. Perez, despite heavy traffic in the first sector on his only soft-tyre flying lap, showcased strong potential for a quicker time.

Both Alpine drivers, Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso, had a relatively smooth session, securing spots in the top 10. Ocon's early run on hard tires placed him well, with only a tenth separating him and Pierre Gasly as the session concluded with fast laps on the soft tire.

As the Miami Grand Prix approaches, tensions are high and the drivers are pushing the limits of their skills and machinery. The practice session provided a glimpse into the competitive nature of the race ahead, setting the stage for an exciting and closely contested event.