UNITED STATES: Max Verstappen claimed his third season victory after a dominant performance at the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday.
Starting from ninth on the grid, the Red Bull driver made an early move on the field, progressing to second place and battling with his teammate Sergio Perez for much of the race.
In the end, Max Verstappen made a crucial move around the outside of Turn 1 and into Turn 2 to take the lead from Perez and win the race.
Fernando Alonso finished third for Aston Martin, while George Russell and Carlos Sainz completed the top five.
A mixed-up grid marked the race after a frantic qualifying session. Perez started on the front row alongside Alonso and held his lead from the outset, while Max Verstappen had a slow start, dropping down to 10th.
However, the Dutchman soon made up for lost ground, passing his rivals one by one to make his way up the grid.
Lewis Hamilton, who started in 13th, climbed through the field in his Mercedes, eventually finishing sixth behind Sainz.
Max Verstappen’s performance strengthened his spot at the top of the championship standings, fourteen points ahead of his teammate, Sergio Perez, who struggled to keep up with Verstappen in Miami.
However, the race was not without controversy, with Sainz receiving a five-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane.
Despite the penalty, Sainz remained fifth in the race result, ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc.
Max Verstappen’s easy victory is a significant morale boost for Red Bull and puts them in a strong position heading into the rest of the season.
With Perez struggling to make an impact in Miami, this year’s championship could be an easy one for Max Verstappen.
Fans will eagerly anticipate the next race in Imola to see whether Verstappen can build on his success in Miami and extend his lead at the top of the standings.
Also Read: Former F1 Driver Encourages Max Verstappen to Take a Page from Hamilton’s Book
