FACTS AND STATS: Norris' SQ2 time good enough for pole but Verstappen takes P1

It was a busy Friday in Miami, with Max Verstappen taking Sprint pole for Red Bull, the sixth time out of seven opportunities he’s started from P1 this season.

He was joined by Charles Leclerc on the front row – the Monegasque surprising many by putting a calamitous spin behind him and grabbing that P2 berth against the odds. Those aren’t the only surprises to come out of Sprint Qualifying in Miami though, so here are all the other interesting facts and stats from Florida…

• Verstappen grabbed his fourth pole in a Sprint Qualifying session, seventh when including the 2022 format.

• Leclerc’s P2 matches his best qualifying of the year in any format, and means the Sprint has the same front row as the last Sprint on American soil in Austin last year.

• Sergio Perez grabbed third, his fourth top-three start of the year across all formats.

READ MORE: ‘Somehow we were first!’ – Verstappen amazed to emerge with pole after ‘terrible’ Sprint Qualifying in Miami

• Daniel Ricciardo was fourth, for his first appearance in either SQ3 or Q3 this season, and his highest start in any format since Mexico City last year.

• Carlos Sainz starts fifth, the same starting slot as in the Sprint in China.

• Oscar Piastri was P6, as he out-qualified Lando Norris for just the second time in seven efforts this year.

• Lance Stroll also out-qualified his team mate for only the second time this season.

• Fernando Alonso’s P8 means it is the first time both Aston Martin cars start in the top eight of any event in 2024.

• Lando Norris qualified ninth, yet his SQ2 leading time would have put him on pole for the Sprint.

• Nico Hulkenberg was 10th, the third time this season he has reached either SQ3 or Q3.

• George Russell starts P11 for the second consecutive Sprint.

• The last time neither Mercedes car reached SQ3 was in Austria last year.

• Esteban Ocon was 13th, which matches his best qualifying of the year – in China at the last race weekend.

• Yuki Tsunoda has been out-qualified by his team mate in both Sprint Qualifying sessions this year.

HIGHLIGHTS: Watch the action from Sprint Qualifying in Miami as Verstappen grabs pole

• Pierre Gasly was 16th, the same position he qualified in for the Sprint in Shanghai.

• Both Kick Sauber cars exited in SQ1 after both making it to SQ3 last time out in China.

• Logan Sargeant was originally the slowest qualifier despite setting the fastest sector 3 time on his final lap.

• Alex Albon lost his final lap time to start last, but he would have exited in SQ1 either way.