The report on the race will be available after the event. Please refresh this post for the most recent version and updates. Enjoy the Miami Grand Prix!
Up until now, Verstappen has emerged victorious in four out of the five Grand Prix races and both Sprints. The powerful Red Bull RB20, designed by Adrian Newey & Co., has been instrumental in his success. The only exception was in Melbourne, where a brake mishap on the #1 Red Bull allowed Carlos Sainz to claim a victory.
As is customary in this sport, whether Verstappen loses today in Miami will depend on fate or luck. However, if everything goes according to plan, we can anticipate the #1 Red Bull driver securing his 39th F1 triumph. This will add to his 38 pole position starts in the top flight, with P1 being obtained in yesterday’s Qualifying for the Grand Prix in Miami, following his triumph in the Sprint Race.
The Ferrari drivers, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, are challenging Verstappen head-on, positioned on either side of the Red Bull. They will be starting from P2 and P3 respectively, with Sergio Perez in the other Red Bull starting from P4.
Achieving victory will not be an easy task for this trio. The Ferrari drivers will face immense pressure in order to keep Perez behind them throughout the race. The question remains: do they still possess the ability to win races under pressure, rather than relying on inherited victories?
On the other hand, if Verstappen emerges victorious, Perez is obligated to finish in second place with his car. And if luck does not favor his teammate, victory should belong to the Mexican driver. Anything less than this for Red Bull would be considered underperformance, given their dominance.
Behind them, the other two McLaren drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piasstri, form an all-Papaya row three. Norris will be filled with frustration as his Sprint Race came to an end at Turn 1, and he will be eager to make up for it with the McLaren MCL38. This car could potentially be the closest competitor to the RB20 so far this year. The outcome of the race will reveal the truth, but both Lando and Oscar are optimistic about their chances.
Beyond the top six, things become more complicated. George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, driving for Mercedes, line up behind the McLarens. The seven-time F1 World Champion caused chaos in the Sprint Race on Saturday with a reckless move into Turn 1 at the start.
History has shown that Hamilton and Russell can be vulnerable in the midst of midpack chaos, which is bound to occur in the car park of the Hard Rock Stadium. The Mercedes they are driving has been abysmal, making it uncertain whether the W15 that takes to the track today in Miami will be the bad one or the very bad one. While points will be welcomed, a podium finish is unlikely unless there are unforeseen circumstances for the once unbeatable Silver Arrows.
(Compiled by Alan Baldwin & Peter Rutherford)