Miami Grand Prix 2022: What we learnt from F1’s first foray into South Florida, icon Martin Brundle’s awkward silence amid grid chaos
For far too long, F1 has been going back to tired old traditional circuits and soulless manufactured tracks, but Miami changed that in one wild weekend, writes Julian Linden.
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Forget the dull race – the Miami Grand Prix is here to stay and is already on its way to becoming the biggest race on the global calendar if other cities don’t learn fast and match the American hype.
Apart from the hour and a half from lights out to the chequered flag – which was a snooze fest, even for the sport’s most dedicated fans – Formula One’s first foray into South Florida was a booming success by every other measure.
Yes, parts of it were cheesy and sweaty and completely over the top, but the parade of stars and the wow factor of racing around an NFL Stadium made it unmissable television and showed every other track what they’ve been missing.
For far too long, F1 has been going back to tired old traditional circuits in Europe and soulless manufactured tracks in countries with more dough than sense, but Miami changed that in one wild weekend.
As Netflix’s Drive to Survive has shown, fast cars just aren’t enough anymore.
If motor racing wants to be cool again, and really cash on its worldwide appeal, then it needs the whole entertainment package.
And that’s why Miami and Texas and Singapore and Las Vegas, when it roars into action next year, are leaving the older tracks behind – and why Melbourne should take note.
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Championship favourite
Although he still trails Charles LeClerc in the driver’s standings, there’s no doubt anymore that Max Verstappen is now the clear favourite to win this year’s title.
In the three races he’s finished this year, Verstappen has won them all and it’s only his two late retirements from Bahrain and Australia that have prevented from leading the championship race.
Already the most fearless and determined driver on the grid, the worry for Verstappen’s rivals is that he is a lot smarter than last year when he came out on top after his titanic battle with Lewis Hamilton.
It was only the Dutchman’s impatience that allowed the more experienced Hamilton to take the title to the final lap of the final race but Verstappen has shown that he’s much a cooler and confident driver in 2022.
Backed by a Red Bull team that is making quicker improvements and faster strategic decisions than Ferrari, Verstappen’s maturity and confidence was breathtaking in Miami when he missed most of Friday’s practice session, started the race behind both Ferraris and still won comfortably.
Red letter day
Charles LeClerc is a fast learner as well as a fast driver.
He knows his best chance of stopping Verstappen from winning back to back championships is by minimising his own mistakes and capitalising on every opportunity he gets.
He doesn’t need to be reminded that his impetuosity cost him valuable points at the last race in Imola, when he threw away a podium place and finished sixth, and he proved that by taking his foot off the gas and settling for second in Miami once he realised he couldn’t get past Verstappen.
The real shame is his Ferrari team aren’t learning from their mistakes at the same pace because they should have brought him back into the garage for fresh tyres when the virtual safety car was deployed near the end of the race.
That would have given him a real shot of passing Verstappen but the Ferrari team was caught napping and left both drivers on the same worn rubber as the race leader – much to the surprise of Red Bull team boss Christian Horner.
“We got lucky,” Horner said. ”Max had crossed the pit line while it was a virtual safety car.
“Then your worst nightmare … it went full Safety Car and that gives Leclerc and Sainz a free stop.
“Thankfully they missed it with both of their cars so we were effectively still on the same strategy, or they would have had a significant advantage.
“We were let off the hook by Ferrari just through timing. They could have put a soft on and they had a free stop.”
Not happy
Damned when you do, damned when you don’t – Mercedes copped a blasting from Lewis Hamilton when he got overtaken by his younger teammate George Russell in the closing laps.
Russell did retreat to the garage to get fresh tyres when the safety car was deployed but Hamilton stayed out there – so was a sitting duck when the race resumed at full speed.
The seven-time world champion has had nothing but rotten luck when it comes to pit stop strategies – most notably in last year’s championship driver against Verstappen – and has been quick to point the finger of blame at his Mercedes crew.
And he blasted his race engineers again in Miami after they told him to make his own decision about whether he wanted to switch tyres.
“You tell me man, don’t leave it to me,” Hamilton growled.
“If you think I can, but I don’t want to lose the position.”
Hamilton was then told to stay on track but the move backfired as Russell passed him, earning the crew another dressing down after the race.
“In that scenario, I have no clue where everyone is,” Hamilton said.
“So when the team says ‘it’s your choice’, I don’t have the information to make the decision.
“That’s what your job is, make the decision for me. You’ve got all the details I don’t.
“That’s what you rely on the guys for but they didn’t give it to me and I don‘t understand it.”
Struggling
Daniel Ricciardo had another forgetful day – finishing out of the points in 13th place – although there was one dubious silver lining.
For the first time since the season opener in Bahrain, the struggling Australian finished ahead of his teammate Lando Norris – but only because the young Briton crashed late in the race,
But it counted for nothing because nothing else went Ricciardo’s way.
He copped a 5-second penalty for an infringement which cost him a chance of a top finish and a valuable point for his team.
“It felt like an eventful race. There were some battles and also moments of fun but it felt like we were defending more than attacking. We were trying our best to hold on,” he said.
“Towards the end of the race when everything gripped-up, we just couldn‘t run with the quicker cars. So, battling hard, and thought I got close to the points there, but it just wasn’t quite enough.
“We‘ll keep at it. I think this circuit certainly played to a few of our weaknesses. Lots of long corners, lots of long straights, so we’ve got to work on that, and then hopefully Barcelona will suit us a bit more, so I’m looking forward to that.“
F1’s icon’s awkward case of mistaken identity goes viral
Martin Brundle is no stranger to awkward grid encounters with the Williams sisters and Miami was no different.
On his iconic pre-race walk, Brundle approached Venus and Serena for a chat - which celebrities are obliged to do as part of their access to the grid - and it all started out fine.
Asked who she was here to support, Venus replied: “We love having Lewis and everyone here in Miami.”
Brundle then greeted Serena before continuing his walk alongside Venus. Ten of the most awkward seconds of silence ensued before Venus said: “Oh what was the question?”
Interview over.
Ever the professional, brundle saw the funny side and moved on to speak with the likes of DJ Khaled, David Beckham and someone he thought was Patrick Mahomes (but wasn’t).
In a case of mistaken identity, Brundle interviewed Paolo Banchero thinking it was NFL superstar Mahomes
THE GRID WALK
A lot of attention on this guy. I don't mean Zak!: pic.twitter.com/eCVG1a116M
— Adam Cooper (@adamcooperF1) May 8, 2022
He came, he saw, he conquered. 🙌
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) May 8, 2022
Thanks to @JKCorden for getting us race ready!
Catch us on the @LateLateShow soon. 👀#MiamiGP 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/rbs9qLZHlh
DJ KHALED!#MiamiGP 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Qr7OdoNWKW
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) May 8, 2022
Martin Brundle in the Multiverse of Madness #MiamiGPpic.twitter.com/LKKCZs3Dm0
— ODDSbible (@ODDSbible) May 8, 2022
"And Modest too"
— Joshua Sykes (@joshuaksykes) May 8, 2022
Martin Brundle the gift that keeps on giving! #SkyF1#MiamiGPpic.twitter.com/Xd9Ud9oRjZ
martin brundle trying to find a f1 driver #MiamiGP#Formula1pic.twitter.com/7oOGIlKkkN
— sundaysr4racing (@sundaysr4racing) May 8, 2022
Martin Brundle thought he was talking to Patrick Mahomes 😂
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) May 8, 2022
Also can we make sure Paulo doesn’t cramp in this heat! He’s locked in! pic.twitter.com/n8afEDvjI4
Martin Brundle’s F1 grid walk in Miami, where he doesn’t know who anyone is, is incredibly awkward and hysterically funny.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 8, 2022
Martin Brundle's gridwalk right now is absolutely hilarious 🤣 pic.twitter.com/1fADkZh5Sf
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) May 8, 2022
Originally published as Miami Grand Prix 2022: What we learnt from F1’s first foray into South Florida, icon Martin Brundle’s awkward silence amid grid chaos
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