PRACTICE 1: Pin tops the timesheets in first Miami Practice session

Doriane Pin got a quick start around the Miami International Autodrome, going fastest on a 1:59.153 in the first 40-minute Free Practice session, ahead of Alisha Palmowski and Standings leader Maya Weug.

McLaren’s Ella Lloyd was the first to sample the Miami streets, opening her weekend's account with a 2:03.038. She improved into the 2:01s with both Lia Block and Pin slotting into second in turn.

Block went on to displace Lloyd, but was beaten in turn by Pin, who posted the first sub 2-minute time of the day. Meanwhile, the 11 newcomers to Miami set about finding the limit, with Nicole Havrda taking a trip over the kerbs whilst Tommy Hilfiger’s Alba Larsen ran over the run-off at Turn 8 and later had a narrow brush with the wall.

Pin continued to strengthen her hold on the top spot with a 1:59.622, as Chloe Chambers moved into second, five tenths back from the #28 PREMA Racing car. Palmowski then leapfrogged her Campos Racing teammate into P2 but could only close the gap down by a tenth.

MP Motorsport’s Weug and Joanne Ciconte left it late to get their first laps on the board, with the Ferrari driver moving into P8 on her first attempt with less than 15 minutes to go.

Lloyd was next to set the benchmark via her effort of a 1:59.592, moving the rookie less than a tenth clear of Pin. The Mercedes driver soon regained her hold on the top of the timesheets by four tenths, improving to a 1:59.153 with less than five minutes remaining.

Her personal best remained unbeaten to the chequered flag, with Palmowski putting in another flying lap in the final minute to take second, putting the Red Bull Racing driver 0.3s behind. Weug rounded out the top three ahead of Lloyd and Chambers.

Nina Gademan finished sixth on her first appearance in Miami, followed by ART Grand Prix’s Aurelia Nobels and Lia Block. Tina Hausmann was ninth as Chloe Chong completed the top-10, despite spinning at Turn 7 in the latter stages.

WHAT’S NEXT?

The field will have another opportunity to get some mileage on the board in Miami, with Free Practice 2 getting underway at 15:20 local time (UTC-4).