Miami

Pole: Charles Leclerc

Winner: Max Verstappen

Fastest Lap: Max Verstappen 1.31.361

1-10

Lewis Hamilton locks up on the first lap and gets a touch from behind. Alonso making a good start going up 4 places up to p7.

10-20

Russell making good moves up into 10th after dropping a few places at the start. Zhou is out due to a mechanical failure. Tsunoda pits onto the hard compound tyre. Lap 16 Alonso has a long pit stop of 5 seconds after a rear right problem. Vettel battles stroll driving on the inside of Latifi, squeezing Vettel the most he can. Lap 17 Gasly pits. Perez is just over a second behind Sainz. Lap 19 Norris pits.

20-30

Perez is reporting losing power. Russell has been making pace as he is lapping almost as quick as his teammate. Lap 23 Lewis Hamilton pitting. Leclerc reporting the car is difficult to drive and he goes into the pits onto the hard tyre. Both Aston Martins had to start from the pit lane and are running 13th and 14th. Verstappen pits lap 27, and Sainz also pits but it was a slow stop of 5 seconds. Lap 29 Norris is stuck in a train with the Haas cars who are stuck behind the struggling Aston Martin cars.

30-40

Max setting the fastest lap and red bull are looking comfortable for the win. Ricciardo pitted and came out very close to Albon in the Williams. Leclerc setting the fastest lap. Vettel locks up and that lets Lando Norris by up into p14 at turn 7. Reports of rain on the distance. Russell and Mercedes agreeing to stay out and hope for a safety car that would give him a free stop. Lap 39 Alonso and Gasly touch at the beginning of the lap Alonso going for the inside move but was behind and touches the rear of Gasly car and that loses him another place down to p11.

40-50

41 Norris hits Gasly. Virtual safety car out and plays beautifully for Russell. Only 16 seconds lost in comparison to the 20. Gasly went wide and didn’t see Norris and clips the tyre of Norris. Safety car lap 41. Soft tyres for Ocon on lap 42. Along with Vettel and Ricciardo. Alonso gets a 5 second penalty for contact with Gasly earlier on. 3 lapped cars overtake the safety car on lap 44. Schumacher up into the points in p9. Safety car in lap 46. Gasly retires after too much damage to the rear. Sainz defending Perez. Magnussen and stroll made contact and it has been noted by the stewards. Lap 48 Leclerc closing up to Verstappen. Lap 49 Sainz goes wide and Perez gains the gap to just under a second.

50-57

Bottas runs wide and that allows the battling Mercedes’ pair to go through. Russell overtakes Hamilton. Leclerc pushing the Ferrari to the limits as he is putting pressure on Verstappen. Lap 52 Perez locks up and Sainz takes the position again on the straight. Lap 54 Ocon overtakes Schumacher for p9. Schumacher and Vettel crash at turn 1 and loses his first points. Verstappen takes the win despite pressure from the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc.

Lots of drivers trying to make moves at the start. Verstappen moves up to second in front of Carlos Sainz. Alonso making good progress up 4 positions at the start up into 7th.

Summary:

The first Formula 1 race in Miami was a great success with plenty of glamour and celebrities exploring the world of F1. The Red Bull of Max Verstappen looked comfortable for the win which proved to be true as he took the race win and fastest lap with neither Leclerc or Sainz able to take the top step of the podium. Late drama in the race after Gasly making contact with Norris led to a safety car on lap 41 meant that all of the top 3 were on the hard tyres with Perez chasing down Sainz for p3 but the Ferrari was able to hold him off. Both drivers at Mercedes had a little battle of their own within the race, after the safety car Russell was on the medium tyres after an unfortunate call of tyres for Hamilton left him on older tyres Russell was able to overtake and take p5 at the end of the race.

The Miami race is on the calendar until at least 2031 with a 10 year contract being signed even before the first race, the excitement and exposure of Formula 1 to America has been a benefit for the sport overall. Miami has definitely made a big impact and we saw a variety of celebrity stars on the grid which has brought exposure and potentially a wider audience to the sport of Formula 1 and the audience in America.

Miami podium celebrations.