World championship leader Charles Leclerc claimed pole position and led Ferrari to a front-row lockout on Saturday when he topped the times in qualifying for the inaugural Miami Grand Prix.
Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton will start the race in sixth for Mercedes after struggling and being as low as 18th.
Leclerc 24, clocked a fastest lap in one minute and 28.796 seconds to outpace his teammate Carlos Sainz by two-tenths in front of a sell-out crowd at the Miami International Autodrome.
Defending world champion Max Verstappen was third after making a slight mistake on his final flying lap. His Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez was fourth with Valtteri Bottas fifth for Alfa Romeo.
Hamilton leapt to fifth while former First Lady Michelle Obama studied his progress from the Mercedes garage and ended the day at sixth.
It was Leclerc's third pole this year and the 12th of his career. For Sainz it is the second time he had secured a front row start. It was Ferrari's first front row lockout since the 2019 Mexican Grand Prix.
“It is amazing to be here and the fans are crazy,” said a delighted Leclerc. “It is going to be a big challenge tomorrow, but we feel very motivated as there are so many Ferrari fans here. Hopefully we can come out on top!”
Verstappen, who in the championship and trails Leclerc by 27 points, swallowed his disappointment and said: “Overall, I am pretty pleased with qualifying as I only did four or five laps yesterday. But we have to start making these weekends less difficult.”
Pierre Gasly of Alpha Tauri qualified seventh ahead of Lando Norris of McLaren and Yuki Tsunoda in the second Alpha Tauri with Lance Stroll taking 10th for Aston Martin.
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Lewis Hamilton answers questions during the drivers' press conference ahead of the Formula One Miami Grand Prix at the Miami International Autodrome in Miami, Florida, USA, May 6 2022. EPA -
Lewis Hamilton wears rings, watches, and bracelets during the Miami Grand Prix press conference in response to the FIA's ban on jewellery and piercings. AFP -
Lewis Hamilton attends the press conference for the Miami Formula One Grand Prix. AFP -
Lewis Hamilton speaks to the media during a press conference for the Miami Grand Prix. AFP -
Lewis Hamilton on track during practice ahead of the Miami Grand Prix at the Miami International Autodrome. Getty -
Lewis Hamilton during the second practice session of the Miami Formula One Grand Prix. AFP -
Lewis Hamilton in the garage during the second practice session for the Formula One Grand Prix of Miami. EPA -
Lewis Hamilton in action during the second practice session for the Formula One Grand Prix of Miami. EPA -
Lewis Hamilton after practice for the Miami Grand Prix. Reuters -
Lewis Hamilton on track during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami. AFP -
Lewis Hamilton during practice for the Miami Grand Prix. Reuters -
Lewis Hamilton exits the garage during the second practice session for the Formula One Miami Grand Prix. AP
After his heavy shunt in the morning's final practice, Esteban Ocon was unable to take part because his chassis had been cracked on impact with the barriers at Turn 14.
He was unhurt but expected to take part in Sunday's 57-lap race from the back of the grid in a rebuilt car.
The opening Q1 session began in heavy heat and humidity with an air temperature of 34 degrees and the track at 53 degrees, fatiguing conditions for all involved. The slight breeze was welcome.
Kevin Magnussen set the opening pace before Verstappen took control, heading the early times ahead of Perez as Russell signalled that Mercedes had regained their vim by going third before Ferrari responded.
After a final flurry, Kevin Magnussen of Haas, Guanyu Zhou of Alfa Romeo, Alex Albon and his Williams teammate Nicholas Latifi were eliminated, heavy traffic blunting their late bids for survival.
Q2 began with Mick Schumacher first out for Haas before the Ferraris and then Red Bull set the pace, Verstappen quickest ahead of Perez by four-tenths. Hamilton took an early fifth, but Russell struggled.
“I'm bouncing,” Russell said after surviving a wild moment at Turn Six before taking seventh as Leclerc went quickest in 1:9.130, an advantage of 0.072 on Verstappen.
But it was not enough to survive the final rush that pushed him down to 12th behind two-time champion Fernando Alonso's Alpine. They missed the top ten shoot-out along with four-time champion Sebastian Vettel's Aston Martin, Daniel Ricciardo of McLaren and Mick Schumacher of Haas.
Hamilton's survival ensured Mercedes avoided repeating the ignominy of failing to reach Q3 with either car from Imola in April.
The shoot-out began with Leclerc going top before Verstappen clocked 1:28.991 — the fastest lap of the weekend thus far — with Sainz going third.
The top three were separated by 0.080 after their first flying runs with Perez fourth ahead of Bottas and Hamilton.
That left them all set to push again in their final runs for pole as Ferrari led the way and Verstappen, pushing hard, failed to respond.
Miami's Grand Prix 'harbour'
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Dry-docked yachts sit on a painted surface simulating water at the site of the Formula One Miami Grand Prix at Miami International Autodrome in Miami Gardens, Florida. The race is Sunday. All photos: AP Photo -
A dry-docked yacht sits on a painted surface simulating water outside Hard Rock Stadium, near which the circuit for the Formula One Miami Grand Prix. -
Members of the racing media take photos on the painted surface simulating water near dry-docked yachts outside Hard Rock Stadium. -
A truck drives on the track as work continues in advance of the Formula One Miami Grand Prix at Miami International Autodrome in Miami Gardens, Florida. -
An Alpine crew member works on a nose and wing assembly as teams prepare for Sunday's Formula One Miami Grand Prix. -
Crews work in preparation for Sunday's Formula One Miami Grand Prix.
