Schumacher throws away points
Mick Schumacher also missed the points on his 26th start in Formula 1. Like ex-world champion Sebastian Vettel, the Haas driver was in the top ten shortly before the end of the race, then the two Germans collided. Schumacher finished 16th and last. Vettel, due to a fuel problem at Aston-Martin already had to drive off from the pit lane, was eliminated. “I didn’t see that!”Vettel assured in the pit radio. “That was clearly my curve”exclaimed Schumacher – he now has to be patient.
It was the first race at the circuit in the east of the USA, Miami is already the eleventh host in the motorsport-loving country in the history of the premier class.
Criticism of the slope due to the surface of the track
The new 5.4-kilometer track drew some criticism from the drivers. Because of an unusual asphalt mixture, many people started to slide. In turn 14, the drivers were annoyed by a chicane, which was also where serious accidents occurred in practice. The unusual character of the course made some fear a chaos race.
But everything went well for a long time. Right at the start, Verstappen grabbed second-placed Ferrari man Sainz and went in search of Leclerc. Things went as planned for Mick Schumacher at the beginning, too, and soon he was in the points in tenth place.
Both Aston Martins out of the pit lane
The 23-year-old also benefited from bad luck at Aston Martin. The eighth qualified Lance Stroll and team-mate Vettel, who was supposed to start 13th, followed the field at the beginning after their technical problem.
At the front, Leclerc was unable to maintain the lead for long after his third pole position of the year. His tires degraded quickly, Verstappen passed almost effortlessly on lap nine. The Dutchman quickly pulled out a small cushion.
Record champion Hamilton had no chance again in the fight for the top spots. The Mercedes driver caused a stir, especially with the dispute about the ban on jewelry in the cockpit, which the new German race director Niels Wittich wants to enforce harder in the future. While Hamilton reluctantly got rid of his earrings and most of his piercings, he wants to obtain a special permit for the future.
Leclerc: “The car is so difficult to drive.”
However, defending champion Verstappen spread the greatest brilliance on the route. Cool, he controlled the race in front of the Ferrari duo. Chaser Leclerc complained: “The car is so difficult to drive.” Even after the first tire changes, Verstappen remained clearly in the lead.
A violent collision of McLaren-Driver Lando Norris with the Alpha Tauri from Pierre Gasly on lap 41 there was fresh tension. That safety car slowed down the field, Verstappen’s lead over the competition was gone. Eleven laps before the end, the race was free again. Leclerc stayed close to Verstappen this time, also thanks to the overtaking help DRS.
Source: dpa/sid/red