I AM still undecided if the Miami Grand Prix was a success or not.
It all felt fake and, let’s be honest, as a race it was a rather dull spectacle.
Max Verstappen looks on course to defend his F1 world title after another win in MiamiCredit: GettyDespite all the glitz and glamour, the Miami GP didn’t live up to its billingCredit: AP
But what I do know from seeing Max Verstappen win again is that he looks nailed-on to retain his world crown.
Formula One’s new showpiece was always going to split opinion. I referred to the Miami GP in these pages as more of a trade show for corporate guests, rather than an F1 race.
The hope was that by making it all look pretty, including a fake marina, and by having a party vibe, it would attract the TV audiences, too.
Unfortunately, it seems that despite all the impressive set-building, they forgot to hire a decent camera operator to record the action.
Verstappen wows all-star Miami crowd as he pips Leclerc with Hamilton sixth
Too many replays, too many shots of the fans in the grandstands, too little action as around half of the 45 overtakes were missed from the live transmission.
No doubt, when F1 get to see their TV numbers, particularly in the United States, they will be rather pleased, which is all very well and good.
I just wished we’d had a belting race because even the newest of F1 fans can see through the sugar- coating of whoever labelled this GP exciting.
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The safety car when Lando Norris crashed allowed Ferrari to hit the reset button as the cars cooled down.
That let Charles Leclerc mount a late, and valiant, attempt to pass Verstappen over a handful of laps.
But he couldn’t match the Red Bull’s speed and Verstappen came home the winner for the third time this season in the third race he has finished.
And therein is the problem Ferrari now face.
As Red Bull improve their reliability, so too will we see an upturn in results for the world champion.
It would have been naive to think that Red Bull would allow their reliability to hamper their season.
Lewis Hamilton posed with Michael Jordan, David Beckham and Tom Brady prior to the raceCredit: ErotemeBut it was another weekend to forget for the Brit as he finished sixthCredit: EPA
They have never tolerated that in the past, so why would they now, even under a budget cap?
Leclerc still leads the championship and I am sure he will continue to give Verstappen a good run.
But at this point I simply cannot see past the Dutchman for the title.
The Red Bull car, designed by Adrian Newey, is again the envy of the paddock, with no porpoising like the Mercedes.
Newey really is the master of his craft and the only way I can see the playing field levelling off is if the technical chief is banned for the next six months.
And even that might not be enough to stop Verstappen winning.
BRUNDLE OF FUN
WHAT is it with Martin Brundle’s grid walks in the US?
In Austin last year, he had a run-in with Megan Thee Stallion and her bodyguard.
There’s a reason why I’ve never watched back an F1 gridwalk in a quarter of a century of doing them. You have no idea how much I dislike doing them but somehow those crazy moments have defined my professional career 🤔. Oh well, that’s the way it is.
— Martin Brundle (@MBrundleF1) May 9, 2022
And in Miami on Sunday it was chaos.
If you missed it, the Sky F1 commentator, who has been doing these pre-race interviews since 1997, produced yet more toe-curling moments.
At one point he thought he was speaking to Super Bowl-winning quarterback Patrick Mahomes, but it was little-known basketball player Paulo Banchero, who is 19 and has not yet played professionally.
His decision to speak to Gianluca Vacchi (no, me neither) was hilarious.
“Sir, I don’t know who you are, but I’d like to know who you are,” Brundle said.
Vacchi wasn’t particularly forthcoming, strange considering some of his music videos, and replied: “Social media sensation.”
Quick-witted Brundle responded with an excellent riposte, saying “and modest, too”.
Brundle says he dislikes doing the grid walk — they are awful but also compelling viewing.
SAYONARA SUZUKI?
IT has been a week since reports that Suzuki will quit MotoGP at the end of the season.
The bombshell that the Japanese manufacturer would pull out was dropped after a one-day test at Jerez — but there has been no official word yet from Suzuki.
Barry Sheene won two world titles on a Suzuki – but the Japanese giant may now drop out of MotoGPCredit: Getty
The topic will set the agenda at this weekend’s race in France, most notably the futures of riders Alex Rins and Joan Mir.
Suzuki were ever-present in the 500cc era, winning titles with Barry Sheene, Marco Lucchinelli, Franco Uncini, Kevin Schwantz and Kenny Roberts Jr.
After a brief exit in 2011, they returned in 2015 — and in 2020 Spaniard Mir won them their first world title in 20 years.
Should Suzuki decide to quit, Moto3 team Leopard Racing are interested in stepping up in their place.
