Miami GP: Charles Leclerc's big chance to extend title lead as Lewis Hamilton addresses Mercedes form

Charles Leclerc on pole ahead of Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen with Lewis Hamilton sixth and George Russell only 12th for Mercedes; Watch inaugural Miami GP live on Sky Sports F1 tonight at 8.30pm, with build-up from 7pm

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Charles Leclerc has a huge chance to extend his championship lead over Max Verstappen as he lines up on pole for Sunday night's Miami GP, the star-studded new race that is set to provide another 2022 thriller amid a boom in Formula 1 popularity and excitement in the United States.

Lewis Hamilton meanwhile insists he has done a "damn good job" to qualify sixth for the maiden Miami event given Mercedes' continued struggles.

The Miami GP is live on Sky Sports F1 at 8.30pm, with build-up from 7pm, and the season and the title race could well take another twist as the sport hits an unforgiving street track specially built for fine racing.

The starting grid for tonight's Miami GP

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Leclerc will start on pole ahead of Ferrari team-mate Carlos Sainz for the race, with Max Verstappen only third after a costly error robbed him of momentum following his victory in Round Four. Leclerc, on the other hand, couldn't have asked for a better opportunity to build on a 27-point lead as he chases his first world championship.

"Carlos is very competitive too so hopefully we can have both of us in front of the Red Bull," Leclerc told Sky Sports F1, with Ferrari also leading the constructors' standings after a superb start to the season,

"Let's see if our performance is enough."

Leclerc and Verstappen's title rivalry - which has already produced incredible wheel-to-wheel racing and skill - is poised to dominate the F1 2022 campaign and it also headlines F1's latest race in America, much to the delight of a bumper Miami crowd who have generated a wild atmosphere through the weekend.

There is a feeling that F1 - with two and soon to be three races Stateside - has finally cracked the USA, and as well as a huge fan presence there will also be several A-list celebrities in attendance.

David Beckham, LeBron James and Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson are just a few of the stars that will be watching on from a track that, surrounding the Miami Dolphins' Hard Rock Stadium, aptly has a Super Bowl feel.

"We don't know about race pace, especially with Max because he didn't run in P2, but with more laps I am sure he will only be more competitive," added Leclerc.

"It is going to be tight, but it is great to have Carlos by my side." 

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