Max Verstappen won from ninth starting position. © APA / JARED C. TILTON

The big Verstappen show in Miami

Max Verstappen put things right again at Red Bull with another fantastic comeback at the Formula 1 spectacle in Miami.

07 May 2023

From: dpa/dl

Starting from ninth place, the two-time world champion and last year's winner raced to victory in the first of three US races on Sunday, relegating his rebellious teammate Sergio Pérez to second place. The Mexican, who started from pole position, missed out on the championship lead and is now 14 points behind the world championship-winning defending champion.

Fernando Alonso came third. The 41-year-old world champion from 2005 and 2006 also confirmed his third place in the World Cup. In the second race of the premier motorsport class at the Miami International Autodrome, George Russell came in four in a Mercedes. Nico Hülkenberg, the only German regular driver this year, missed out on the points by finishing 15th in the Haas.

Lots of glamour

270.000 spectators on the three Grand Prix days and a celebrity density like never before made Miami a spectacle once again. Even before the race started, Formula 1 proved why it now fascinates the masses in the USA. LL Cool J introduced the drivers to the new anthem of the premier motorsport class - an entry of the horsepower gladiators. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Tesla boss and Elon Musk watched the event from the pit lane on Saturday. Acting stars like Michelle Rodríguez and Vin Diesel, sports giants like tennis legend Roger Feder, former ski racer Lindsey Vonn and football idol Patrick Mahomes – the line-up of superstars would have been enough for two races.

Actor Vin Diesel also didn't miss the spectacle in Miami. © APA/afp / CHANDAN KHANNA

And for the Americans' new Formula 1 love with the crowning return to Las Vegas in mid-November, the starting grid alone with the top favorite in the fifth row offered excitement enough. Verstappen was only in ninth place after a mistake and a prematurely aborted qualification due to an accident by Charles Leclerc.

Verstappen puts Perez in his place

The increasingly self-confident stable rival Perez, who was only six points behind Verstappen in the standings before the race, had secured pole. Both had shared the victories between them until Miami. “I want to drive my own race and have as much fun as possible,” Pérez announced immediately before the start. And he couldn't have gotten off to a better start.

The Mexican, celebrated by the many Latinos in Miami, got off to a top start. He defended the third pole position of his career against two-time champion Alonso. Carlos Sainz from Ferrari also stayed in third place on the grid.

Verstappen, who had opted for the most durable but initially not so fast tires, began his race to catch up quite quickly. In a spectacular maneuver, he took down two rivals at once during a maneuver on the start and finish straight. “I made it a little more difficult for myself,” he said before the start, before racing forward with one fastest lap after another.

By the tenth lap, Verstappen was already in fourth place, less than five seconds behind his teammate at the front. And all three in front of him were on medium rubber, so they would have to come in for the pit stop before Verstappen.

Show of power from Red Bull

In Saudi Arabia this season, Verstappen made it from 15th place on the grid to second place behind Pérez. In Miami, the 25-year-old Dutchman provided further evidence of his exceptional skills and the superiority of the RB19 from Red Bull. Lap 14, Verstappen on third. Lap 15, Verstappen on two.

Only the teammate in front of him, who reported wear problems with one of the front tires to the command post and was steadily losing his lead. After the 20th lap, Pérez came into the pits and Verstappen took the lead.

Charles Leclerc had no chance in the Ferrari. © APA / JARED C. TILTON

Pérez now had to apply pressure to minimize the gap so that Verstappen would come out behind him during his pit stop. And Pérez, who was the big winner last weekend with victory in the sprint and the Grand Prix in Azerbaijan, initially did it brilliantly. But the closer Verstappen got to changing the tires, the bigger 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 thrilling duel. Even if only briefly. Because then Verstappen passed on the outside and away.

The result.