MAX VERSTAPPEN has won the F1 Miami Grand Prix after starting the race in NINTH position.
Lewis Hamilton finished up in sixth place after starting the day in 13th himself, while Verstappen’s team-mate Sergio Perez finished just behind him.
- Start time: 8.30pm BST
- TV/Live stream: Sky Sports F1
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Dutch flag flying high in standings
Max Verstappen now leads Red Bull team mate Sergio Perez by 14 points in the 2023 driver standings.
With Fernando Alonso in third place some 44 points behind Verstappen.
It would take some serious effort by anyone to dethrone Verstappen this season.
Credit: Getty Verstappen changing the history books
Max Verstappen become the first driver to win a Grand Prix from ninth place on the starting grid since Niki Lauder.
Lauder achieved the same feat back in 1984.
Verstappen is only the fourth driver in the history of formula one to achieve this milestone.
Credit: @F1 Driving to the Max once again
Defending world champion Max Verstappen spoke about his performance in the 2023 Miami Grand Prix:
It was a good race. I stayed out of trouble at the beginning and picked off the cars one by one. I had a little battle with Checo at the end but we kept it clean and that is the main thing. The qualifying was a bit of a set-back but winning a race from P9 is always nice.
Max Verstappen
Horner all smiles in Miami
It was a perfect day at the office for Red Bull’s Christian Horner.
Seeing their drivers once again take the top two places in the race.
No one could really see anyone else winning the constructor’s championship even at this early stage of the season.
Red Bull gives you wins.
Credit: AFP The stars were bright, Fernando
Fernando Alonso is enjoying his drive in the Aston Martin.
The Spanish driver booked himself yet another podium finish with only the Red Bulls able to stay ahead of him.
He really is enjoying his racing again and seems at one with the car.
Being the competitor he is, Alonso will be aiming for his first race win in the Aston Martin but that will take some doing with this Red Bull car outperforming all in the field.
Credit: AFP Double trouble in front of pack
It is becoming a more regular sight of two Red Bull cars battling it out at the front of the race.
Verstappen also wins ‘driver of the day’ taking the victory after starting eight places behind his team mate on the grid.
The choice of starting on hard tyres seems to have made the difference for Verstappen with most drivers opting for medium tyres.
Credit: EPA Red Bull dominates in Miami
It is a Red Bull one and two in the Miami Grand Prix.
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
- George Russell (Mercedes)
- Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
Carlos Sainz manages to hold onto fifth spot despite his five second penalty as he managed to stay far enough ahead of Lewis Hamilton to hold his position.
Max Verstappen wins Miami Grand Prix
Lap 57/57 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
Perez seems to have given up the ghost in catch Verstappen.
The lead between the two is ever increasing, now at 3.6 seconds.
Verstappen also has the fastest lap of the day so far.
Fernando Alonso looks set for yet another podium finish.
Credit: AP
Lap 55/57 – Verstappen leads, Leclerc sixth
The two Ferraris are now in fifth and sixth.
Lewis Hamilton is their biggest concern right now.
The British driver takes Pierre Gasly to move into seventh spot.
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen has opened up his lead to almost 3 seconds.
Hamilton takes Leclerc in what possibly might be the take of the day.
Lap 53/57 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
Lewis Hamilton is now in eighth position, only 1.6 seconds behind Charles Leclerc.
Leclerc however is setting his sights on Pierre Gasly.
This would be some rave from Verstappen to win this one, he has managed his tyres well and his one pit stop.
Lap 51/57 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
Verstappen now has a 2.3 second lead on Perez.
Alonso is having a lonely race in third with nobody putting any pressure on his position at all.
Catching Perez is sadly not an option for the Spaniard.
Russell is fourth, Sainz fifth and Gasly sixth.
Lap 49/57 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
As Sergio Perez shows some brilliant defensive driving on the bends to hold off Max Verstappen.
The pair come really close together but they are cautious to ensure there is no collision.
Verstappen is charging his battery well to ensure he is not vulnerable to the fact that Perez now has DRS active.
Credit: EPA Lap 47/57 – Perez leads, Verstappen second
Max Verstappen is on medium tyres and comes out of the pits with Sergio Perez in his sights.
This should be some battle now to the end of the race.
Nobody has won a race from ninth place on the grid since 1984.
Perez does not have DRS though which will make it difficult for him to hold off his team mate.
Lap 45/57 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
Many of the teams were planning for a safety car with some debris on the track but we have not seen one implemented.
This means that there could be fuel concerns for some cars.
Perez has been told to manage his better as Verstappen is doing.
Fernando Alonso is having a comfortable drive in third with George Russell some 7.8 seconds behind him.
Max Verstappen is the only driver to have not pitted now.
Lap 43/57 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
When Verstappen goes onto medium tyres he is going to be lightening quick.
With an 18 second lead over Perez, he will fancy chasing down his Red Bull team mate.
The team are telling him his ‘effective track position’ after pitting will actually have him still out in front of Perez.
This day just keeps getting better and better for the Dutch driver.
Lap 41/57 – Verstappen leads, Russell fourth
Lewis Hamilton heads into the pits and returns to the track in twelfth place.
He immediately takes Botas and goes into eleventh spot.
Verstappen has still yet to put and has a 17.6 second lead on his team mate but will lose 20 seconds when he decides to pit.
Lap 39/57 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
George Russell takes Carlos Sainz and moves into fourth place.
Leclerc and Magnussen are battling it out for tenth place.
The Ferrari takes him on the turn but Magnussen uses DRS to take him on the straight.
Nico Hulkenberg has just set the fastest lap on medium tyres.
That bodes well for Max Verstappen.
Credit: Getty Lap 37/57 – Verstappen leads, Russell fifth
George Russell finds himself in an interesting position now.
With Carlos Sainz to take a five second penalty and Esteban Ocon having to pit, that will put Russell in fourth place.
He isn’t a million miles away from Fernando Alonso also.
Russell makes his move and overtakes Ocon.
Lap 35/57 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
Everyone in the top ten is running on hard tyres now.
This will be interesting as when Verstappen pits, he will be coming out on medium tyres.
His battle will then be to try and catch Sergio Perez.
Charles Leclerc is back in twelfth place.
Lap 33/57 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
Lewis Hamilton has the order from his team to let George Russell pass him.
Esteban Ocon sits in fifth place but has yet to pit.
Russell thanks Hamilton as he lets him through.
Max Verstappen registers another fastest lap.
Lap 31/57 – Verstappen leads, Alonso third
After making his decision to pit, Fernando Alonso works his way back up through the field.
Carlos Sainz has moved up into fourth place.
Red Bull are trying to get Verstappen to push his tyres as they want him to come out of the pits ahead of Alonso.
Credit: Getty Lap 29/57 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
This would be some performance by Max Verstappen to win the race having started ninth on the grid.
Sergio Perez will have something to say about that though.
Lewis Hamilton will be able to take advantage of Carlos Sainz taking his penalty at some stage too, depending on when he decides to pit of course.
Lap 27/57 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
It is a Red Bull one and two now.
Verstappen will have to pit at some stage too so this is set for an enthralling battle between the two.
Ocon is still in third place but will need to pit at some stage also.
Lewis Hamilton moves up into sixth place.
Lap 25/57 – Verstappen leads, Perez third
Alonso now has Red Bull cars in front and behind him.
Perez is now 12.6 seconds behind the Spaniard.
Fernando Alonso takes the chance to head into the pits.
Carlos Sainz has been awarded a five second penalty for speeding in the pit lanes.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
