Miami Grand Prix: Masterful Verstappen dominates, wins for second time in Miami

Max Verstappen won the Miami Grand Prix in style to extend his lead atop the Championship standings. The Dutchman won the race and was named Driver of the Day after some excellent driving in Miami.

Having lost the Azerbaijan Grand Prix to teammate Sergio Perez, Verstappen was looking to regain control of the Championship standings. Things were not going so well for the Red Bull driver as he failed to record a time in qualifying, meaning he had to start the race in ninth place while Perez took pole in the Miami Grand Prix.

Verstappen attacked the race from the start, moving from ninth to second in only 16 laps before overtaking teammate Perez halfway through the 57-lap race. He lost his lead when he pitted to change tyres but managed to retake the lead with ten laps left in the race. He finished the race in 1:27:38.241s, over five seconds ahead of second-place Perez. The Dutchman also managed to claim the fastest lap in the race, securing a bonus point for himself.

Verstappen won the race ahead of teammate Perez, with Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso coming third. George Russell finished fourth, Carlos Sainz was fifth, Lewis Hamilton was sixth and Charles Leclerc finished in seventh place. Pierre Gasly, Esteban Ocon and Kevin Magnussen completed the point-scorers in Miami.

Verstappen has now opened up a 14-point lead to second-place Perez in the Championship standings after an impressive showing. He claimed his 38th career win and Red Bull are comfortably on top of the team standings, leading second-place Aston Martin by over 120 points.

The Formula One season continues in Europe as the drivers will head to Italy for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix from May 19th.