F1 to 10: What really happened at the Miami Grand Prix
Max Verstappen maintains Oracle Red Bull Racing's undefeated start to 2023 in Florida, with team-mate and pole-sitter Sergio Pérez finishing second for a fourth team 1-2 result this year.
Max Verstappen extended his Formula One world championship lead at the Miami Grand Prix, the Dutchman recovering from ninth on the grid to pass Oracle Red Bull Racing team-mate and pole-sitter Sergio 'Checo' Pérez for first place at the first corner with 10 laps remaining. The win was the team's fifth in succession and fourth 1-2 finish in 2023. Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso finished third – for the fourth time this year – to complete the podium.
*2023 is the 74th season of the F1 world championship
That Verstappen and Pérez occupied the top two steps on the podium was no great surprise given the pace advantage the RB19 has enjoyed over the opening quintet of races this season, but Verstappen's third victory of the year was anything but plain sailing. He qualified just ninth after being caught out when Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) crashed in the final stages, preventing the drivers behind him from improving their lap times.
Verstappen played the patient game in the early stages of the race and methodically moved forwards on a different strategy to his peers. Red Bull elected to split tyre strategies with its drivers, with Verstappen on the more durable hard rubber and Pérez on the faster medium compound, albeit a tyre with less longevity.
Verstappen was up to second by Lap 20 when Pérez pitted from the lead, and it was the double world champion's relentless pace on worn rubber from Lap 30 until his own pit stop on Lap 45 that proved decisive. Pérez briefly reclaimed first place after his team-mate pitted, but on worn tyres, could do nothing to resist a Verstappen overtake for the lead – and the win – at Turn 1 with 10 of the 57 laps remaining.
With Verstappen stuck in the Saturday pack after Leclerc's qualifying off, Pérez took his second pole of the year – and third of his career – after a superb lap early in Q3, which proved to be pivotal as the session was red-flagged and not restarted.
The special Florida-inspired pink, blue and purple paint job for the RB19 driven by Verstappen and Pérez in Miami was created by Argentina's Martina Andriano as part of the team's 'Make Your Mark' campaign.
Martina won the fan-led competition from members of 'The Paddock', the team's free loyalty program, as part of an opportunity to reboot the RB19's look at each of the races in Miami, Austin and Las Vegas this season.
In a race of no attrition – all 20 drivers who started took the chequered flag after 57 laps – Scuderia AlphaTauri driver Yuki Tsunoda came agonisingly close to the points in Miami, the Japanese finishing 11th and less than two seconds behind the Haas of Kevin Magnussen for the final point on offer.
Tsunoda bemoaned a lack of grip on Saturday as he qualified a season-worst 17th, but ran the hard tyres all the way to eighth place, before his Lap 37 pit stop and just ran out of laps to catch the Danish driver at the end.
Team-mate Nyck de Vries made Q2 for the first time and qualified a season-best 15th, but the Dutchman locked his tyres and tapped the back of Lando Norris (McLaren) at the first corner of the race, condemning himself to an afternoon of fighting an ill-handling car from the rear of the field. He eventually crossed the line in 18th place, the final driver not lapped by race-winner Verstappen.
5. The number you need to know
38: Verstappen's second consecutive win in Miami was his 38th for Oracle Red Bull Racing, matching four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel for the most victories by one driver with the team. It came one week shy of seven years since his first F1 victory at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, his debut with the team.
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