Max Verstappen, driving for Red Bull Racing, took the lead at the start of the race. The Formula 1 World Championship, Round 6, Miami Grand Prix, took place on May 5, 2024, in Miami, Florida, USA. Lando Norris, after 110 starts, secured his first Formula 1 victory at the Miami Grand Prix. McLaren’s upgraded car and a well-timed Safety Car helped propel Norris to the top spot on the podium. This was McLaren’s first victory since Daniel Ricciardo won at Monza in 2021.
While Norris celebrated his win, some drivers had a disappointing weekend in Miami. Norris performed exceptionally well throughout the race, even before the Safety Car intervention. He was able to build a comfortable lead over Max Verstappen and managed the race perfectly. Despite a poor performance in the Sprint race, Norris redeemed himself in the Grand Prix.
On the other hand, Norris’ teammate, Oscar Piastri, was hindered by the Safety Car. Piastri showed great skill by securing second place in the early stages of the race and successfully fending off the Ferraris. However, his race took a turn for the worse when he pitted before the Safety Car period, causing him to lose track position. A collision with Carlos Sainz further damaged his chances of a podium finish.
Max Verstappen had a strong start to the weekend, winning the Sprint race and securing pole position for the Grand Prix. However, he faced challenges during the race, including hitting a bollard and losing track position due to a pit-stop and the Safety Car deployment. Despite finishing in second place, Verstappen extended his lead in the championship.
Sergio Perez had a lackluster performance in Miami. He struggled to match his teammate’s pace and faced pressure from Lewis Hamilton towards the end of the race. Charles Leclerc had a mixed weekend, with a spin in FP1 but a strong performance in qualifying and the Sprint race. However, he struggled to make progress during the Grand Prix.
Carlos Sainz had a difficult weekend, failing to pass Daniel Ricciardo in the Sprint race and facing frustration when his teammate, Leclerc, couldn’t overtake Oscar Piastri. Sainz’s aggressive move resulted in a collision with Piastri, earning him a time penalty and penalty point on his license.
Lewis Hamilton had a challenging start to the Sprint race, but he fought his way through the field and had a strong performance on Sunday. George Russell struggled with tire management and lost ground in both the Sprint and Grand Prix races.
Yuki Tsunoda led the charge for the Red Bull junior team, finishing in seventh place. Daniel Ricciardo had a strong performance in the Sprint race but struggled to make progress in the Grand Prix. Fernando Alonso had a difficult qualifying session but managed to salvage points with a strong final stint. Lance Stroll outperformed his teammate, Alonso, in qualifying but had a challenging weekend overall.
Both Alpine drivers, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, had a strong weekend after a slow start to the season. Ocon secured a point for the team, while Gasly narrowly missed out on scoring. Nico Hulkenberg impressed with his performance, but Kevin Magnussen faced penalties and was involved in incidents throughout the weekend.
Zhou struggled in qualifying and fell back during the race, while Valtteri Bottas had a quiet weekend due to Sauber’s struggles. Alex Albon had a disappointing race, finishing last after a late lock-up. Logan Sargeant had a mixed weekend, outqualifying Albon but being involved in a collision with Magnussen.
Overall, it was an eventful and challenging weekend for the drivers in Miami.