The race report will be available after the event. Update this post for the latest version and updates. Enjoy the Miami Grand Prix!
So far, Verstappen has emerged victorious in four out of five Grand Prix races and both Sprints. The powerful Red Bull RB20, designed by Adrian Newey & Co., has been key to his success. The only exception was in Melbourne, where a brake issue in the Red Bull #1 allowed Carlos Sainz to take the win.
As is customary in this sport, whether Verstappen loses today in Miami will depend on fate or luck. However, if all goes according to plan, we can anticipate that the Red Bull #1 driver will secure his 39th victory in F1. This will add to his 38 pole positions in the top category, with P1 obtained in yesterday’s Qualifying Session for the Miami Grand Prix, following his Sprint Race win.
Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are challenging Verstappen head-on, positioned on either side of the Red Bull. They will start from P2 and P3, respectively, with Sergio Perez in the other Red Bull starting from P4.
Achieving victory will not be an easy task for this trio. The Ferrari drivers will face immense pressure to keep Perez behind them throughout the race. The question remains: do they still have the ability to win races under pressure, rather than relying on inherited victories?
On the other hand, if Verstappen emerges victorious, Perez is required to finish in second place with his car. And if luck does not favor his teammate, the win should belong to the Mexican driver. Anything below that for Red Bull would be considered below-par performance, given their domination.
Behind them, the other two McLaren drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piasstri, form a row all orange. Norris will be full of frustration, as his Sprint Race came to an end at Turn 1, and he will be eager to recover with the McLaren MCL38. This car could potentially be the closest competitor to the RB20 so far this year. The race result will reveal the truth, but both Lando and Oscar are optimistic about their chances.
Beyond the top six, things get more complicated. George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, driving for Mercedes, line up behind the McLarens. The seven-time F1 world champion caused chaos in the Sprint Race on Saturday with a reckless move at Turn 1 early on.
History has shown that Hamilton and Russell can be vulnerable in the midst of the chaos of the midfield pack, which will certainly happen in the parking lot of the Hard Rock Stadium. The Mercedes they are driving has been terrible, making it uncertain whether the W15 entering the track today in Miami will be bad or very bad. Although points are welcome, a podium is unlikely unless unforeseen circumstances occur for the once unbeatable Silver Arrows.
(Compiled by Alan Baldwin & Peter Rutherford)
