After a formidable weekend in Imola, Max Verstappen hopes to peak this weekend in Miami. In any case, the world champion is welcomed there with open arms.
Reporter Maurice de Heus gauged the status of Verstappen in the American metropolis with two men where racing blood flows through the veins: International GT driver Scott Vanacore and Troy Flis, who worked as a team owner in the Sportscar championships with the Dutch top driver Renger van der Zande.
Land gain
It is the first time that the Formula 1 circus settles in Miami, Florida. Race fans mainly associate the state with the well-known NASCAR, the renowned American stock car racing class that opens every year at the iconic Daytona International Speedway in Florida. But Formula 1 is gaining ground against NASCAR and IndyCar, the other American racing giant.
Second US GP
This is due to a number of things. For example, exciting championships logically attract a large audience and the denouement of last season, in which Verstappen trumped his rival Lewis Hamilton in the very last race round, is an example of this.
But especially the fact that F1 has been in American hands since 2017, the success of the annual grand prix in Austin, Texas, and the Netflix series. Drive to Survive to be triggers for a second American Grand Prix.
increase pressure
The Miami GP is the fifth Grand Prix of the season. Verstappen will try to further increase the pressure on World Cup leader Charles Leclerc (Ferrari). In the previous race weekend, he took a 19-point bite out of his gap on Monegask, which is now 27 points. The Red Bull driver will appear at the Miami International Autodrome in a helmet with a special design.
Also read: Max Verstappen with special helmet in Miami
baseball pitcher
Verstappen, along with teammate Sergio Perez, already immersed himself in American sports culture on Thursday. He opened with the ceremonial first pitcha role reserved for celebrities attending a baseball game, the MLB game between the Miami Marlins and the Arizona Diamondbacks.
pit lane
L1’s motorsport program Pitlane looks extensively on Thursday at the already special race weekend. In the show, the circuit is further highlighted and Verstappen himself also speaks about the race in Miami. Pitlane can be viewed from 12:00 on the websites of 1Limburg, L1 and YouTube.