Verstappen secures victory for Red Bull at Miami GP
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen showcased his incredible talents at the Miami Grand Prix, driving from ninth to claim victory with ease. This is the reigning two-time Formula One champion’s third win of the season, contributing to Red Bull’s flawless record, winning all five races so far. The Red Bull team has already achieved four 1-2 finishes this season, with Verstappen or teammate Sergio Perez securing pole position in each race.
Verstappen’s victory marked the 38th of his career, tying him with Sebastian Vettel for the most victories for Red Bull. The Dutchman has the potential to smash Vettel’s record, with the current season being plagued with criticisms of a predictably boring Red Bull-dominated season. The sheer poise and skill set showcased by Verstappen throughout the 57-lap race earned him rave reviews from his boss, Christian Horner, who applauded his ability to race cleanly with his teammate.
The Red Bull team has adopted a fair approach to the championship, allowing Verstappen and Perez to race without hindrances. Perez started the Miami race in pole position, while Verstappen began his campaign in a lowly ninth position due to a Charles Leclerc-inflicted crash that prematurely ended his final qualifying attempt. Nevertheless, Verstappen steadily climbed through the rankings, quickly overtaking competitors and breezing through the field.
With 15 laps remaining, Verstappen held a nearly 18-second lead before making his pit stop. The pit stop resulted in him returning to the track in second place, trailing only 1.6 seconds behind Perez. However, it took him just minutes to pass Perez, clinching victory in a gripping wheel-to-wheel battle with nine laps left to spare. Verstappen’s win is a notable achievement, becoming the first driver since Niki Lauda in 1984 to clinch the top spot after starting from ninth.
The runner-up spot went to Perez, who finished a full 5.3 seconds behind Verstappen. Fernando Alonso, driving for Aston Martin, secured third place, finishing a whopping 26 seconds behind the winner. The British driver George Russell landed a respectable fourth position, finishing ahead of Carlos Sainz Jr. of Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes, who impressively drove from 13th to finish sixth overall. Leclerc of Ferrari finished seventh while Alpine drivers Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon claimed eighth and ninth spots, respectively.
American team Haas’ driver Kevin Magnussen secured the final spot on the scoreboard, scoring a point for only the second time this season. The Haas team utilized the Miami race to showcase their American sponsors, with Chipotle promising 10,000 free burritos if a Haas driver could score a point on Sunday.
The sold-out crowd of 90,766 witnessed a star-studded event, as Jeff Bezos, Tom Cruise, Elon Musk, Serena and Venus Williams, and Roger Federer graced the race. LL Cool J handled the driver introductions, and the drivers walked out to a new song made specifically for the race, called “The Formula,” by will.i.am, accompanied by a symphony.
Meanwhile, American driver Logan Sargeant finished last place in his hometown race. He began his campaign in the 24th spot, and although he failed to make an impact on this occasion, he is a promising young talent worth keeping an eye on.
