F1 Miami

Max Verstappen beat Charles Leclerc to victory in Formula 1's first Miami Grand Prix, winning after passing on-track early on and then defying considerable ...

Leclerc came closest to making a pass with a look to the inside of Turn 11 at the end of the long, curving run from the ‘marina’, but was pinched on the inside line and lost ground – never getting alongside the leader. Leclerc was able to set competitive times at this stage, but could not do so consistently and with Verstappen able to cover him off each time anyway, so Ferrari called him in to switch to the hards at the end of lap 24 – just after he had reported his car was “so difficult to drive”. But a serene had no chance to play out after the safety car was called out on lap 41 after Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris collided – putting the McLaren driver out just past the start of the long, meandering acceleration zone that follows the fake marina at Turn 8. The Red Bull was steadily able to build a lead, aided by Leclerc locking up and sliding deep at Turn 17 on lap 12, which cost him a second and meant at the end of that tour Verstappen’s lead had reached 2.6s. At the end of lap eight, Leclerc slid exiting the Turn 17 hairpin and Verstappen arrived right on his gearbox – moving alongside as they ran down the pit straight and then taking the lead with a simple pass into Turn 1, Leclerc opting not to fight too hard. Leclerc had a 0.8s lead at the end of the first lap of 57 and quickly moved to pull clear of Verstappen’s DRS range by the time it was activated on the third lap.

Max Verstappen edged past Charles Leclerc, and Mercedes had a topsy turvy weekend. But was the track actually successful?

The important thing is that we’re able to race, and I will be able to race as well.” Ocon said on Sunday that he felt “50%” after the race, still feeling the after effects from Saturday’s crash. That was a shame not to see that implemented.” “When the car and tires are in the right window the car, except for the bouncing, feels really good to drive. Sainz and Esteban Ocon crashed in the same turn a day apart from each other, but both said the crash was harder than it should have been. So, I’m just grateful for everyone continuing to keep their heads down and for the amazing hard work that everyone is putting in.” There was improvement in terms of how the team was finishing. George Russell previously highlighted that Imola was “the first weekend where I’ve been truly struggling with my back and, like, chest pains from the severity of the bouncing. With over 20 laps to go, the AlphaTauri star had contact with Fernando Alonso and was running slower. Typically the cause is related to the cars’ aerodynamics. Meanwhile, the Ferrari star appeared to struggle despite running in the top two spots consistently throughout the afternoon, saying at one point “The car is so difficult to drive,” before pitting for hard tires. Weather, including the heat, aside, numerous drivers complained about the track, and Mercedes had a topsy turvy weekend that leaves everyone wondering if they have found a possible fix for the porpoising.

Organizers Tom Garfinkel and Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross produced a gorgeous facility, far above our expectations.

- Lando Norris, McLaren, +18 laps - Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri, +12 laps Bottom line: The Miami Grand Prix led off with a swagger, an assuredness far beyond what its rookie status should have. After his brief run of bad luck, Verstappen was a man on a mission, and anyone who bets against a pissed-off Verstappen does so at their own peril. The race itself was surprisingly lackluster, a largely follow-the-leader affair after Red Bull's Max Verstappen squeezed by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz in the first few laps. Traffic was miserable leaving the race, but compared to, say, Circuit of the Americas, it was a mere inconvenience.

Max Verstappen turned up the heat in the Formula 1 title battle by claiming his second win on the bounce as he defeated Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in the ...

The trio analyse the track action and and how the event stacked up against other F1 races on the calendar, and if it lived up to the hype. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz managed to hold off a down on power Sergio Perez to secure the final podium spot, while George Russell charged from 12th to fifth, taking advantage of the safety car and fresher tyres to leapfrog team-mate Lewis Hamilton. F1’s first visit to Miami created plenty of hype pre-event and it resulted in a bumper crowd witnessing Verstappen overhaul polesitter Leclerc, in a race spiced up by a late safety car, after a collision between AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly and McLaren’s Lando Norris.

Miami Gardens delivered a Superbowl-esque Formula 1 event, with Max Verstappen beating championship rival Charles Leclerc to victory – but it wasn't so ...

It meant AlphaTauri failed to score with either car for the first time this year. It was also a score for Williams on the 45th anniversary of the team’s F1 debut. Alex Albon has been outdriving his Williams all year – and another stellar result looked to be on the cards with strong form in practice. Pierre Gasly ran well in the top 10, but contact with Fernando Alonso caused damage and he then collided with Lando Norris before retiring. And that confidence took another hit when he crashed heavily in practice. Sebastian Vettel thought points were possible, but those hopes were extinguished when Mick Schumacher hit the German with, as Aston Martin boss Mike Krack described, an “over-ambitious” move.

Max Verstappen was victorious at the inaugural Miami Grand Prix on Sunday, which came less than five months after his first-ever Formula One win.

Said Sainz, 27, in his own post, "🏆 P3! Great to be back on the podium after some eventful races. 🏆 Incredibly happy to win here in Miami 💪," Verstappen wrote in a celebratory Instagram post following his victory. Verstappen beat out Charles Leclerc from Monaco after a gripping back-and-forth between the two men, after Verstappen initially overtook Leclerc, 24, earlier in the race.