MAX VERSTAPPEN won the maiden F1 Miami Grand Prix, holding off a late surge from runner-up Charles Leclerc.
Lewis Hamilton finished in sixth, one place behind his Mercedes team-mate George Russel as Carlos Sainz came third and Sergio Perez placed fourth.
It was a horror race for McClaren’s Lando Norris, who crashed out on Lap 41 after a collision with Pierre Gasly.
FABULOUS BINGO: Get a £20 bonus & 30 free spins when you spend £10 today
Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…
That’s all from Miami
So, Miami has been tried and tested. The drivers weren’t the happiest, but the fans certainly were.
Verstappen wins today, and here’s where we stand overall:
Thanks for your company, goodnight!
Hamilton frustrated at team
Lewis Hamilton was left confused when asked by his race engineer, Bono whether he wanted to pit or not.
In his post-race interview, he was visibly annoyed, stating that it’s his team’s job to make those decisions.
Drivers slate the track
In their post-race interviews, the drivers have been quick to voice their concerns with the surface here in Miami.
Esteban Ocon has called it “a disaster”. Whilst George Russel has said it was “like driving through one dry lane on a wet track.”
A new helmet for a new circuit
Max Verstappen is the first driver to win in Miami!
Final standings
A tough day for Haas
Magnussen is given a five second penalty for causing a collision late on. It won’t change his position, since he was already last.
Things were looking very bright for the team before Schumacher took both himself and Vettel out of the race with just a few laps to go.
.Credit: FLORENT GOODEN / Every Second Media / DPPI Media Drivers discuss
The three drivers are escorted by Police to a few plastic chairs where they are left to wait for their podium celebrations.
In quite a casual, but amusing natter, Carlos Sainz is heard swearing in conversation as the cameras quickly cut away.
It’s the national anthems next.
.Credit: AP A happy, but very thirsty winner
Verstappen calls it an ‘incredible Sunday’, before taking on as much fluid as possible. All three drivers look truly shattered in this heat.
“A tough race” – Sainz
Leclerc talks physicality
An improved performance for Mercedes
George Russell overtook Hamilton late on in the race to come home ahead of his team-mate.
VERSTAPPEN WINS THE MIAMI GRAND PRIX
Verstappen never let Leclerc back in. He started third on the grid, and wins in Miami today!
Leclerc takes second and will be joined on the podium by team-mate, Sainz.
Perez comes home in fourth, with the two Mercedes taking fifth and sixth.
.Credit: Reuters Verstappen sets the fastest lap
The Dutchman pulls further away from Leclerc and just needs to keep his cool now.
Heartbreak for Schumacher
The Haas driver looked set to get his first points of the season. But he drove straight into Vettel, sending the German spinning out into retirement.
Schumacher could be further punished here.
3 laps to go!
This is epic entertainment.
Will Leclerc get one last opportunity to have a go at Verstappen?
A matter of corners and straights
Both Ferrari’s appear to have better traction coming out of the corners. But the Red Bull has significantly better straight line-speed.
Perez looks as though he’s got past Sainz, but he brakes too late and Sainz can recover.
Leclerc is still battling with Verstappen ahead of them.
What a finish we have to this race!
Russell overtakes Hamilton
Russell gets past Hamilton despite being forced off the track.
I’m not sure Lewis enjoyed that, but Mercedes won’t be appealing.
Hamilton gets past Bottas
Bottas went very wide and Hamilton took full advantage, breezing past his ex- teammate. Russel then gets past the Alpha Romeo driver.
Gasly forced into early retirement
The Frenchman’s collision with Norris has been deemed too serious for him to continue.
He is the third driver to retire today.
So close…
There are 0.65 seconds between Verstappen and Leclerc. The Ferrari man will have DRS on the next lap.
Sainz then shut the door on Perez to retain third place, for now.
Green flag!
Here we go then!
Verstappen gets away quickly, but is under pressure from Leclerc.
Meanwhile, Perez is in hot pursuit of Sainz.
A mix of tyres
Verstappen, Leclerc and Sainz are on the hard compounds.
Perez pitted and has opted for mediums. He has the chance to make up ground, now.
Elsewhere, there is a real mix of old, new, hard, soft and mediums!
Who’s your money on?
Top 10
Schumacher is in the points!
- Verstappen
- Leclerc
- Sainz
- Perez
- Bottas
- Hamilton
- Russel
- Alonso
- Schumacher
- Ocon
Safety car prepares to make way
There’s a long break here as the debris is cleared from the track.
Verstappen will look to hold off Leclerc behind him.
It’s exciting again…
Alonso picks up 5 second penalty
The Spaniard is given a penalty for causing a collision with Gasly earlier in the race.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
