Max Verstappen had an easy run to keep the Red Bull team unbeaten this season, as the two-time reigning Formula 1 world champion climbed from ninth place to claim victory at the Miami Grand Prix.
Red Bull have won all five races this season, and team-mate Sergio Perez’ second-place finish in Miami confirmed their fourth top double this year. Verstappen has three wins this season, while Perez, who was in top position in Miami, has two.
This victory for Verstappen is the 38e of his career, which allowed him to tie Sebastian Vettel for the most wins for Red Bull.
“It’s just pretty,” Verstappen said. It was a good race overall, thanks to the whole team. It was also a very, very good result for the team. Again. »
Red Bull boss Christian Horner hailed Verstappen’s composure throughout the 57-lap race, which saw him claim his second consecutive win in Miami.
“Nice work, Max. It was a good performance in the middle of the race. It was very impressive with the hard compound and thank you for driving cleanly with your teammate,” said Horner.
Red Bull announced that it would allow Verstappen and Perez a clean battle for the championship, and Perez looked set to take the upper hand in Miami starting from pole. Verstappen was relegated to ninth place as qualifying was cut short before his last qualifying attempt due to a crash by Charles Leclerc.
The Dutchman had no trouble making his way through the traffic. He moved from ninth to sixth in the opening four laps, taking advantage of a two-car overtake at a corner to gain ground. He was fifth on lap nine, fourth on 12e lap and finally behind Perez, second, at 15e round.
Verstappen took the lead when Perez went to the pits on 20e lap and he maintained a nearly 18-second lead with 15 laps to go. When he finally made his pit stop, Verstappen returned to the track in second place, but just 1.6 seconds behind Perez.
It took him just minutes to pass Perez for the win, taking the lead in a wheel-to-wheel battle with nine laps remaining. Even though Verstappen has already won from a lower starting position, he becomes the first driver since Niki Lauda at the 1984 French Grand Prix to win from ninth place.
Perez finished second, 5.3 seconds behind Verstappen.
“I tried everything and gave it my all,” Perez said as the crowd shouted his nickname, “Checo. »
Fernando Alonso finished third for Aston Martin, but finished 26 seconds behind. This is the fourth podium in five races for the resurrected Spaniard.
“It wasn’t easy and it’s never easy, but it was a solo race,” Alonso said.
Quebecer Lance Stroll, Alonso’s teammate at Aston Martin, took the 12e position.
George Russell finished fourth for Mercedes, followed by Carlos Sainz Jr., for Ferrari, and Lewis Hamilton for Mercedes, who moved up from 13e in sixth place. Leclerc finished seventh, and Alpine drivers Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon finished eighth and ninth respectively.