Formula 1 world champion Verstappen won the Miami Grand Prix from ninth place on the grid. Only his teammate Perez was able to keep up halfway.
Like last year, Red Bull driver Max Verstappen won the Miami Grand Prix and extended his World Championship lead in Formula 1. The Dutchman, world champion in 2021 and 2022, won his 38th Grand Prix ahead of teammate Sergio Perez and extended his lead over the Mexican to 14 points.
Fernando Alonso (Spain/Aston Martin) finished third and completed the podium in the first of three US races. Nico Hülkenberg, who was born in Emmerich, finished 15th in the home race of his Haas racing team without any points.
For Red Bull it was the fifth win in the fifth race of the season. Added to this is Perez’s success in the only sprint of the year so far in Baku.
Fed up with celebs in Miami
270,000 spectators on the three Grand Prix days and a density of celebrities like never before made Miami a spectacle again. Even before the race started, Formula 1 showed why it now fascinates the masses in the USA. LL Cool J introduced the drivers to the new anthem of the motorsport premier class – an entry of the horsepower gladiators.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Tesla boss Elon Musk watched the event from the pit lane on Saturday. Actors such as Michelle Rodríguez and Vin Diesel, sports celebrities such as tennis legend Roger Federer, ex-ski racer Lindsey Vonn and football idol Patrick Mahomes also came.
Verstappen only ninth on the grid
The starting line-up with the top favorite in the fifth row was exciting enough. Verstappen was only ninth after a mistake and a prematurely canceled qualification due to an accident by Charles Leclerc.
The increasingly self-confident stable rival Perez, who was only six points short of Verstappen before the race, had secured pole. Both had divided the victories among themselves until Miami.
Clever tire choice at Verstappen
The Mexican Perez, celebrated by the many Latinos in Miami, got off to a great start. He defended his third career pole position against two-time champion Alonso. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz also stayed in third on the grid.
Verstappen, who had opted for the most durable but initially not so fast tyres, quickly began his race to catch up. During a maneuver on the start and finish straight, he spectacularly conceded two rivals at once. By lap ten, Verstappen was already fourth, less than five seconds behind his team-mate at the top. And all three in front of him were on medium rubber, so they would have to come in for the pit stop before Verstappen.
Impressive catch-up
In Saudi Arabia, Verstappen had made it from 15th on the grid to second behind Pérez this season. In Miami, the 25-year-old Dutchman provided further proof of his exceptional ability and the superiority of Red Bull’s RB19.
On lap 15, Verstappen was only ahead of his teammate, who reported wear problems with one of the front tires to the command post and steadily lost his lead. After lap 20, Pérez came into the pits and Verstappen took the lead.
Overtaking maneuver on the second attempt
Pérez now had to put pressure on, minimize the gap so that Verstappen would come out behind him during his pit stop. And Pérez initially did it brilliantly. But the closer Verstappen got to the tire change, the greater his lead became again. And it was also clear: With the fresh and slightly softer tires, Verstappen would be even faster.
And so it happened. Verstappen came out just behind Pérez. The Mexican fended off the first attempt – a gripping, albeit short duel. Because then Verstappen passed outside and away.