MIAMI GP – Max Verstappen takes three second win ahead of Charles Leclerc in the sprint
Max Verstappen took victory in the sprint race at the Miami Grand Prix, the Dutchman took a three second victory ahead of Charles Leclerc. The Red Bull driver controlled the fast sprint after fending off Leclerc at the start.
The Ferrari driver appeared to make a good start off the line before Verstappen swung passed him into the first corner that then left the Ferrari on the defensive he soon saw off Leclerc who was left to fight Sergio Perez.
Verstappen started from pole position and was challenged by Leclerc on the opening lap but stayed ahead before a Safety Car was called for Lando Norris, who got caught up in a first-corner incident that also involved Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.
Stroll himself was on the outside of Alonso and Hamilton, who dived up the inside to make up ground. Alonso suffered a puncture as he was sandwiched by Hamilton and Stroll, the latter also retired after pitting at the end of the first lap.
Things went from bad to worst for the Mercedes driver, every time he tired to pass the Haas Magnussen made his car wide enough to deny Hamilton a way pass as he tried to secure the final point. One point he even cut the chicane in sector two. That saw a train develop behind him.
The second incident was especially annoying for the seven-time champion because it allowed RB’s Yuki Tsunoda to slip by for eighth place after Hamilton had spent 14 laps trying to pass the Haas. Hamilton, though, managed to reclaim the place on the final lap, only to be hit with the penalty.
Despite it looking like another easy victory for Verstappen, in the opening laps the gap to Leclerc did yo-yo as the Ferrari driver fended off Perez to finish third. Daniel Ricciardo had his best result this season with fourth holding off Carlos Sainz, as they finished within a second of each other.
The Australian was under pressure earlier in the season after being outperformed by RB team-mate Tsunoda, but he has hit form in the last two races and showed his class with a brilliant defensive display to keep in front of Sainz.
Oscar Piastri was sixth the McLaren driver finishing half second behind. He was comfortably ahead of the Haas of Nico Hulkenberg by just over seven seconds with the RB of Yuki Tsunoda. Hulkenberg aided by his teammate Magnussen creating the train which allowed him to close up.
Pierre Gasly was ninth the Alpine driver two and a half seconds nearly ahead of Logan Sargeant.