Verstappen wins inaugural Miami GP
Max slices 8 points off Leclerc lead
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla., May 9, (AP): His first day racing around the new Formula One circuit in Miami was absolutely horrible. Then he made a mistake in qualifying that cost him a spot on the front row.
By the time race day rolled around, Max Verstappen had knocked it all out of his system.
Verstappen was explosive at the start Sunday and used a pair of aggressive passes to get past Ferrari and current championship leader Charles Leclerc. Once out front, the reigning world champion controlled the inaugural Miami Grand Prix for his third win in five races to start the season.
The 23rd win of the Dutchman’s career sliced eight points off Leclerc’s lead in the standings. Verstappen now trails him by 19 points headed into the Spanish Grand Prix in two weeks. He celebrated on the podium with Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino, who represented the host Miami Dolphins in presenting Verstappen with his winning
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trophy and an official helmet.
Later, Verstappen, Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr. posed for photographs all wearing helmets.
Verstappen started third after Ferrari locked up the front row with Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr. in qualifying. But in the end, Red Bull got the best of its new rival for a second consecutive race.
Verstappen pounced at the start to get ahead of Sainz, then set his sights on Leclerc and used a strong outside pass on the ninth lap to claim the lead.
Leclerc said the tires on his Ferrari struggled on a hot South Florida day in which temperatures reached 90 degrees despite brief intermittent showers.
Verstappen went unchallenged until a late crash between Lando Norris and Pierre Gasly brought out the safety car and setup a 10-lap sprint to the finish on the 19-turn, 3.36-mile circuit (5.41 kilometers) built around Hard Rock Stadium.