F1 Miami Grand Prix: Max Verstappen wins from 9th as Red Bull boss issues brutal reality check for rivals

Red Bull boss Christian Horner has delivered a brutal reality check to the team’s main rivals after his drivers claimed another 1-2 finish in Miami.

Race winner Max Verstappen made history in Miami

Christian Horner says Red Bull’s stunning start to the 2023 season is down to the failings of Ferrari and Mercedes more than his team’s improvement on last year.

Red Bull is now 122 points clear of Aston Martin in the Constructors’ Championship after yet another one-two finish in Miami – the team’s fourth such result in the first five races.

Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez have shared victories at every stop so far this season and it already looks to be a race in two for the Drivers’ Championship.

Asked if the RB19 was Red Bull’s most dominant Formula One car ever, Horner could not resist taking a subtle swipe at the team’s would-be rivals.

“Five races, five wins – plus the sprint – (and) four one-two finishes. We’ve never had a start like this,” he told Sky Sports F1.

“We’re kind of wondering, where are the others? Because we’ve made a normal step, we think, over the winter. It’s more where did Ferrari and Mercedes go?”

With the race calendar now shifting to Europe, teams are expected to introduce more upgrades over the coming months.

Mercedes plans to bring an upgrade package to Imola but how much it will close the gap on Red Bull – if at all – remains to be seen.

The reigning champions have a limited development window this season due to the 10 per cent wind tunnel penalty imposed on them after breaching the 2021 cost cap.

“They’re working hard I’m sure on big upgrades for Europe,” Horner said.

Christian Horner really stuck the knife into their rivals

“With the penalty, we have to develop the car later in the year. It’s important for us to get as much fresh air as we can between ourselves and the opposition at this stage.

Despite Red Bull’s obvious pace advantage an almost every facet, Horner still believes teams will close the gap later in the season.

“I think you’ll see from the next race – I think there’s big upgrades coming,” he said.

“We have to be super selective in terms of what we test and how we develop the car. Thankfully, the car has got off to a great start and therefore we’re not having to solve big issues, so we’re able to focus on those incremental gains.

“But I do expect (the pace of the cars) to converge later in the year.”

UNSTOPPABLE: IS VERSTAPPEN MAKING F1 BORING?

It might be time to ring the bell.

Max Verstappen is simply too good.

In a week where some experts have expressed fears of the sport becoming too boring and predictable, Red Bull’s reigning world champion has thrown down the title challenge to Sergio Perez by dominating the Miami Grand Prix.

Verstappen came home ahead of his teammate and Fernando Alonso in third.

For just the fifth time in Formula One history and the first time since 1984, a driver rose from ninth on the grid to take the chequered flag and of course it was Verstappen.

The 25 year old had declared a win was impossible following his qualifying calamity a day earlier, but after rounding up the field in just 15 laps a Red Bull battle loomed large.

Team boss Christian Horner prophesied a head-to-head with three laps remaining but Verstappen outdrove Red Bull’s best simulations.

With 10 laps to run he flew past Perez and crossed the line more than five seconds clear of his teammate.

“I stayed out of trouble at the beginning and then just had a clean race. Picked the cars off one by one and managed to stay out really long on the hard tyres – I think that’s what made the difference today,” Verstappen told Sky Sports F1.

“Then a good little battle with Checo at the end. Everyone kept it clean and that’s the most important.”

“Yesterday was of course a bit of a setback.

“For sure winning a race from P9 is always very satisfying.”

Had pole sitter Perez held on, he would have become the first Mexican driver since Pedro Rodriguez in 1967 to lead the Formula One championship.

But despite his eight-place advantage on Verstappen, Perez was no match for his teammate – whose call to start on the hard tyre paid dividends.

Max Verstappen, who placed first (R), and Aston Martin's Spanish driver Fernando Alonso

“I tried. I gave it my all, I just think the first stint was really poor,” said Perez.

“I think the medium (tyre) initially was really poor. That was unexpected. That really compromised our pace and honestly, I think also Max had tremendous pace on the hard tyres.

“We have to analyse what went on today because we simply didn’t have the pace (that Verstappen had).”

On the seventh anniversary of his announcement as a Red Bull driver, Verstappen edged closer to making team history.

His 38th F1 victory equaled Sebastian Vettel’s total number of race wins in a Red Bull.

Verstappen’s third chequered flag of the season also extended his lead atop the Drivers’ Championship standings to 14 points over Perez.

Alonso came home in third for his fourth podium of the season, with Mercedes’ George Russell in fourth and the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz taking fifth.

Lewis Hamilton drove an impressive race, rising from 13th on the grid to finish sixth, ahead of a disappointing Charles Leclerc who started and finished seventh.

Race winner Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Second placed Sergio Perez

MCLAREN MISERY

Oscar Piastri’s maiden race in the US was one to forget with the 22 year old starting and finishing in 19th place

The Aussie rookie made up five places in an opening lap scramble but 14th was as high as he managed, with the slow going McLaren hindering his Miami Grand Prix.

The papayas struck a surprise strategy move to start on soft tyres while the rest of the grid went with mediums and hards.

But it quickly became obvious that was the wrong decision and both McLarens pitted early to get onto the hard tyre.

Stuck down in 18th position, it went from bad to worse for Piastri.

He was forced to let teammate Lando Norris pass as the Aussie struggled with a software issue that affected his braking.

McLaren's Australian driver Oscar Piastri endured a miserable day

From there it was about making it to the end of the race in one piece; fellow rookie Logan Sargeant the only driver to meet the chequered flag after the young Aussie.

It’s another disappointing outing for Piastri, whose early Formula One running has been littered with problems beyond his control.

In his maiden race it was a battery issue that forced him to DNF in Bahrain and the following race in Saudi was ruined when he suffered front wing damage on the opening lap.

After scoring his first points in Formula One at his home race in Melbourne, Piastri’s problems continued into Azerbaijan where he suffered through a bout of food poisoning.

Teammate Lando Norris drove a brilliant race in Baku to showcase what appeared to be a faster McLaren, courtesy of a floor upgrade.

But whatever pace the papaya showed in Baku seemingly abandoned it in Miami, with Norris only managing to cross in 16th.

For Piastri, it’s yet another race ruined by bad luck.

🏁 CLASSIFICATION (LAP 57/57) 🏁

How we crossed the line in Miami Gardens 🌴#MiamiGP#F1pic.twitter.com/vdEBuVIH3h

— Formula 1 (@F1) May 7, 2023

LAP 57/57 MAX VERSTAPPEN WINS IN MIAMI

1 Verstappen

2 Perez

3 Alonso

“Thanks for racing cleanly with your teammate Max,” Christian horner on the radio.

LAP 54/57 VERSTAPPEN LEADS

Remember in Baku when Ocon hadn’t pitted and we saw a group of 25 photographers almost get crushed by an F1 car? So apparently the rules have changed since last weekend and now all cars have to cross the finish line before a single engineer, guest or official is allowed to enter pitlane. So given three cars have been lapped already today it’s going to be a quieter pitlane finish when Verstappen wins.

Honestly you would think this was the rules in place already but hey.

On the track a brave move from Hamilton to take Gasly and Leclerc for 6th. Remember about 50 laps ago when Hamilton had a little tanty saying he probably couldnt fnish the race?

Funny how things change eh?

LAP 50/57 VERSTAPPEN LEADS

“Which position is Lance? Great move into turn 1”

OK so let me get this straight, Alonso is somehow able to drive an F1 car at 300kmh, run third in a Grand Prix AND manage to watch his teammate’s race on a big screen and radio in some feedback?

How is he doing this? That's mad.

LAP 46/57 VERSTAPPEN LEADS

Well we didn’t have to wait until lap 54 of the race for that battle did we? Perez putting on a terrific defensive display - for all of two corners - but Max has this race covered.

Wheel to wheel, hold your breath moment and pray we don’t see a replay of 2018, and Max reclaims the lead.

Just behind them, Alonso is managing to hold on to third for now.

LAP 46/57 PEREZ LEADS

Finally the world champion goes into th epits and it is GAME ON.

His teammate is 1.6 seconds ahead but according to the engineers there has been very little communication to the mexican about what Max is up to.

we all know how this race finishes yeah?

LAP 42/57 VERSTAPPEN LEADS

Hamilton with a lovely move on his old teammate Valtterri Bottas to get himself back into the points and the overtake was timed to perfection with Albon emerging from the pits.

The Brit came out ahead of them both and has a reasonable amount of clear air ahead of him.

He’s about three laps off making a move on Magnussen.

Verstappen and Stroll the only cars left on track yet to pit. One leads and the other is riding in 7th.

Verstappen has done incredibly well to maintain his tyres this long and moreover, to continue to increase his lead on his teammate. he’s currently 18 seconds ahead of Perez and the pit stop will take about 20.

Tennis royalty at @HardRockStadium for @f1miami 🏎️🎾@Venuseswilliams 👑 @rogerfederer 👑 @serenawilliams | #MiamiGPpic.twitter.com/OvMdT5hQjf

— Miami Open (@MiamiOpen) May 7, 2023

LAP 38/57 VERSTAPPEN LEADS

We’ve not talked about porpoising at all really this F1 season but by the sounds of Sainz’s radio messages, Ferrari certainly have an issue with bouncing this morning.

Compounding his misery of a bouncy car and a five-second penalty awaiting him, he’s just lost 4th spot to Russell.

The Mercedes star now has his sights on Alonso in 3rd, a four second gap to make up.

Meanwhile, Hamilton has come into the pits.

Now the track is improving and clearing the mediums are becoming the tyre of choice, Hulkenberg, back in 15th, just clocked the fastest lap of the race on the Ms and that is an ominous, ominous sign for the end of Verstappen’s race.

LAP 36/57 VERSTAPPEN LEADS

Ocon’s tyres really impacting his race position now, he’s lost 4th to Sainz and Russell and Hamilton are creeping up behind him.

Russell has a great race pace since his pit stop and it you’re Aston Martin you’d want to be looking into that because in the latter stages of this race it could bet he difference between a podium and not.

LAP 30/57 VERSTAPPEN LEADS

Piastri’s car issue is a brake software issue apparently which explains his lack of pace. Loosely translated, don’t expect anything more than this, the kid is doing a good job to even be on the track.

Not had a good run of it the Aussie, he had stomach issues and food poisoning in Baku. maybe his luck will change in Europe.

Max Verstappen is told he needs to remain out on track until at least lap 40 for this one stop strategy to work, Ocon and Hulk told similar. Only one of them is managing their tyres at the moment and that person is leading the race.

Formidable drive from Max so far.

LAP 28/57 VERSTAPPEN LEADS

Funny how life can change isn’t it. One minute you’re Charles Leclerc “fighting for a world championship” the next you’re Charles Leclerc stuck in 13th behind a Haas.

Really didn’t see this as the way in which his race would pan out.

Further ahead, Hamilton is yet to pit but has climbed to 6th, his teammate coming up in his rear view mirror now.

LAP 24/57 TROUBLE FOR SAINZ

Not great news for any Ferrari fans, it’s looking very likely that five seconds will be added to the Spaniard’s race.

He’s currently under investigation with the stewards for speeding in the pitlane. Can’t catch a break this kid.

Chritsian Horner speaking mid race is saying their team data predicts both cars will be fighting head-to-head with three laps to go and they WILL be allowed to race.

At the back there is a few place improvements for McLaren. Norris is up to 16th and Piastri 18th.

LAP 21/57 VERSTAPPEN LEADS

Perez has pitted and jeeez if you blink you miss it, 2.2 seconds form the Red Bull crew, that was outstanding.

Alonso and Albon the only cars in the top 10 yet to switch to the hard compound and the Aston Martin will likely now play the long game, hopes of taking advantage of a safety car had gone.

LAP 18/57 PEREZ LEADS

As expected, Hamilton is climbing and he’s into the points, up to 7th as everyone pits. Cars are sliding across this resurfaced track now, a heavy down pour overnight has not helped the quality of the circuit whatsoever.

I’m a little confused about Alonso’s race so far, he’s yet to make any kind of impact at the front, he has not given either Red Bull any cause for concer, he’s really just driving in no man’s land.

Red Bull needs to make a decision on Perez’s race, Verstappen is getting close to DRS zone and the leader needs to freshen up.

LAP 14/57 PEREZ LEADS

Verstappen is coming and he’s coming in fast. The Dutchman is up to third and there’s just .47 between him and Alonso. Three seconds ahead of them is Perez.

And I can’t even complete the lap update without Verstappen taking Alonso, we now have a Red Bull 1-2, the speed of that car is terrifying.

At the back there is no improvement for the McLarens, they wont enjoy much about this weekend when they get the plane back to Europe but somehow Zak Brown will find a way to spin the data as “encouraging”....doesn’t he always?

Plenty of cars coming into pit and the placements are shaking up, this could be Hamilton’s chance to make some moves if he can delay his own stop.

Making it look easy. 👌 @TomCruisepic.twitter.com/UbmVHxjxsi

— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) May 7, 2023

LAP 10/57 PEREZ LEADS

Russell now saying his car isn’t feeling the best but you would never know it looking at the way he’s overtaking on this track.

Sublime move from him in 6th to take Gasly for 5th, no DRS, just a beautifully executed move. Further ahead Verstappen has got himself to 4th and is chasing Sainz down in the Ferrari.

Cars being told not to fight Verstappen and to maintain their tyres. Probably wise. That car is FLYING.

Thigs are getting no better for Hamilton who is still back in 13th and stuck behind Albon’s Williams which has found some straight line speed from somewhere.

Little Hamilton can do until Albon pits.

LAP 6/57 PEREZ LEADS

Replays of the start show it was Nyck de Vries that locked up and ran into the back of Norris so he also has front wing damage.

The McLaren forced into the run off area on the start and has now pitted, a bad strategy from them to start on the softs in anticipation of a safety car, it’s blow up in their faces.

Further ahead Hamilton is on the radio saying he’s been hit, no one can figure out by whom Hamilton already complaining about his car and saying he won’t complete the race.

His engineers cannot find anything wrong with the car. Seems a little hissy fit areas from the Brit to be honest.

LAP 3/57 PEREZ LEADS

An early pit stop for Logan Sargeant and he’s got damage to his front wing from that early issue on the start and this effectively ruins his race, 49 seconds in the pits for the Williams.

Terrific scrap for 6th between Leclerc and Magnussen and sitting right behind them is Verstappen, sitting there like he’s set to pounce and wasn’t he just!

Leclerc takes 6th but immediately as he secures the spot, the Red Bull launches and executes the sublime double overtake to go 6th and poor old Leclerc is now back in 8th as Magnussen sneaks back through.

Terrific racing.

LAP 1/57 LIGHTS OUT IN MIAMI

A dream start for Sergio Perez and he’s already pulling away from Alonso. The only early bingle came at the back and I think it was the McLaren of Norris who got caught up with an Alpha Tauri.

Not good for Hamilton who has lost a spot and is down to 14th, his teammate Russel has moved into 6th off the start. Verstappen avoided disaster, lost an early place but has since made it up.

Norris in all sorts he’s back to 19th but look at Oscar Piastri, he’s up ton14th from 19th!

5:20AM WHAT HAPPENS AT THE START?

Right I know I said this last week in Baku and the race was super boring, But I think we can expect a little chaos on lap one today.

Plenty of cars are out of place and if last year’s start is anything to go by there will be significant movement.

One to watch, keep an eye on Verstappen (9th) coming up from two spots behind Russell.

The pair has a collision in Baku and I’m not convinced the Dutchman has quite forgotten about it.

Hamilton also back in 13th, he will be keen to get by the Haas, Alfa Romeo and Williams ASAP.

Alonso’s prediction is that Verstappen will be leading by lap 25, I’m not so sure it’s going to take that long.

5:10AM BRUNDLE NAILED THE GRID WALK

Redemption for Martin Brundle on the Miami GP grid walk.

A year on from the unfortunate clanger which saw him approach NBA star Paolo Banchero thinking he was Patrick Mahomes, it seems the duo are the bests of friends.

“It’s been a hell of a year and I am honoured you know my name,” Banchero. “I’m here for Team Lewis, Mercedes.”

Brundle has been hit and miss in his previous grid walks in the US.

“There’s one of the Williams sisters but I honestly don’t think I can handle the rejection this time,” he said when he saw Venus.

Brundle then made a bee line for Roger Federer who is also in town to back the Mercedes duo.

Martin Brundle found NBA ROY Paolo Banchero.

He got the name right this year. #MiamiGPpic.twitter.com/V9oSDgaWvJ

— Lukas Weese (@Weesesports) May 7, 2023

Common Federer w 😊😌 Game recognizes game 🐐🐐#MiamiGP 🇺🇲pic.twitter.com/iqr1KIf4C5

— Hamilton Insights (@LH44_insights) May 7, 2023

5AM: WILL RED BULL BRING OUT TEAM ORDERS?

Formula One world champion Max Verstappen said victory in the Miami Grand Prix is “not impossible” despite him starting ninth on the grid.

Red Bull’s Verstappen, who leads the driver’s championship after picking up two wins from opening four races of the season, was unable to get his late fast lap after Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc crashed and qualifying was cut short with one minute 36 left.

The Dutchman’s team-mate Sergio Perez, who is second in the standings just six points behind Verstappen, grabbed pole position after Saturday’s qualifying.

Despite the setback, Verstappen, who won the maiden Miami race last year, was not giving up hope of a strong result.

“A podium, for sure, but I want to win, so this is not great. (Winning is) not impossible, but it’s not going to be easy,” he said.

While Leclerc’s crash didn’t help, Verstappen had already made life difficult for himself by not getting his full fast lap in earlier.

He said he had only himself to blame for having to pull out of his earlier lap after a mistake.

“I was a little bit offline out of (turn) six into seven, I felt a bit of understeer, and I just couldn’t get it back on the line. So I aborted my lap. It was definitely a mistake of mine trying to put it on the limit.

“Then of course, you need a bit of luck, hoping that there won’t be a red flag. But of course, when you try to think like that, then it happens. So, it’s a bit upsetting,” he said.

But Verstappen, winner of the last two Formula One seasons, was keeping a sense of perspective.

“I’ve been in this position before, you have sometimes a few setbacks but that doesn’t mean that it carries on for the rest of the year or whatever.

“It can’t always be perfect, you hope that it’s going to be perfect. Last year we had a tough start, but you still need to nail a few bits yourself. Today was not great,” he said.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner questioned why the race was only stopped 20 seconds after Leclerc’s crash.

“Had it been stopped immediately, you could have possibly got around,” he told Sky Sports.

Horner has been happy to let Perez compete with Verstappen, with no heavy use of team orders as of yet, and the Mexican says he is relishing the inner-team competition.

“I’m enjoying it. I’m just thinking race by race. I will go out ... for my team because they’ve done a tremendous job and see what happens tomorrow (Sunday),” he said.

“It is a new opportunity, starting from pole. We are the ones that have (something) to lose, but we will just go out there and try to enjoy this amazing crowd,” he said

F1 STAR WHACKS RICCIARDO AS PIASTRI BOMBS

McLaren driver Lando Norris says current Aussie teammate Oscar Piastri is pushing him harder than Daniel Ricciardo ever did in an apparent swipe to his former colleague.

The comments were made before Piastri and Norris registered a disastrous 19th and 16th in qualifying respectively at the Miami Grand Prix with McLaren season on the rocks since the start.

Asked about the main differences between the two Australians, Norris said: “I wouldn’t say we (he and Piastri) have the same driving style, but our comments and complaints are generally always the same. So I think that’s a good thing.

“He’s a lovely guy, down to earth, a normal guy, a worker. So it’s good fun. Different, I guess, to Daniel, I feel like a bit of a contrast of Australian [character], but still good fun.

“He’s very fast at the same time, so he’s probably been pushing me a little bit more than in the past couple years.”

With the weekend in Miami going worse than anticipated, Piastri really struggled on the newly resurfaced circuit.

And the Aussie was not the only driver caught out with Nico Hulkenberg and Charles Leclerc crashing out.

“It’s been a difficult day,” Piastri said after qualifying.

“At the beginning of the session, I was a bit surprised that the track wasn’t quick compared to the end of Free Practice 3 – then it obviously improved quite a bit through the session.

“Regardless of track evolution, I think we were struggling for pace throughout the whole session today.

“It’s super, super close. It’s been the same story the whole year – we’re at risk of going out in Q1 every weekend but also where we have the chance to be in Q3 every weekend.

“Today we’re just at the back end of that bracket, unfortunately. It’s been a tough day.”

Temperatures in Miami have clocked over 31 degrees which Piastri said was causing some issues.

“We’re struggling a bit with these hotter conditions,” he said.

“In general, it’s not sort of one place where we’re struggling massively; it’s just little bits everywhere.

“P2 yesterday looked more encouraging; maybe our fuel load or engine mode was maybe a bit better than others at that point.

“But it was also the coldest track conditions and we looked more competitive as well.

“So I think we need to understand why we struggle a bit more when it’s hotter.

“The temperature is obviously massively different to Baku.

“I think the type or tarmac is also a bit different as well; the layout is very different.

“So there’s quite a lot of differences to Baku; a lot of longer corners here.

“All of those factors are probably contributing to the pace this weekend.”

Sergio Perez will start on pole for Sunday’s race sharing the front row with Fernando Alonso.

World champion Max Verstappen is back in 9th which will make for an interesting start.

Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton endured his worst ever qualifying in America and will start in 13th.

HOW THEY START

1 Sergio PEREZ Red Bull

2 Fernando ALONSO Aston Martin

3 Carlos SAINZ Ferrari

4 Kevin MAGNUSSEN Haas

5 Pierre GASLY Alpine

6 George RUSSELL Mercedes

7 Charles LECLERC Ferrari

8 Esteban OCON Alpine

9 Max VERSTAPPEN Red Bull

10 Valtteri BOTTAS Alfa Romeo

11 Alexander ALBON Williams

12 Nico HULKENBERG Haas

13 Lewis HAMILTON Mercedes

14 ZHOU Guanyu Alfa Romeo

15 Nyck DE VRIES AlphaTauri

16 Lando NORRIS McLaren

17 Yuki TSUNODA AlphaTauri

18 Lance STROLL Aston Martin

19 Oscar PIASTRI McLaren

20 Logan SARGEANT Williams

Originally published as F1 Miami Grand Prix: Max Verstappen wins from 9th as Red Bull boss issues brutal reality check for rivals