Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix: Max Verstappen claims third win of season, as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finishes second
- Red Bull driver slashes Ferarri title rival’s lead at top of standings to just 19 points
- Verstappen also claims fastest lap on day when tyre issues and heat leave drivers exhausted
Max Verstappen won the inaugural Miami Grand Prix on Monday (Hong Kong time) after coming from behind to pip Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to the chequered flag and claim his third win of the season.
The Red Bull driver also bagged fastest lap on the newest stop on the Formula 1 circuit, on a day when tyre issues and intense heat left all the drivers exhausted.
Leclerc’s Ferrari teammate Carlos Saniz took third, just ahead of Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, with Mercedes’ George Russell rounding out the top five. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton was sixth. Ferrari retained the lead in the constructors’ standings on 157 points to Red Bull’s 151.
But it was a day to forget for China’s Zhou Guanyu, who lasted just six laps in his Alfa Romeo before having to retire from the race with a technical issue. There was better news for teammate Valtteri Bottas, who finished in the points in seventh place.
Victory saw Verstappen slash Leclerc’s overall lead to 19 points after five races, and the Dutchman made the win happen with a crucial overtake on Sainz at the start to seize second place before then blasting past Leclerc on the ninth of the 57 laps.
“It was an incredible grand prix,” said Verstappen, who has won every race he has finished so far this season and was handed his winner’s trophy by Dolphins NFL quarterback great Dan Marino.
“[It was] very physical but I think we kept it exciting until the end.”