2 weeks ago
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took a controlled triumph up of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc successful nan sprint title astatine nan Miami Grand Prix.
Verstappen was successful power aft fending disconnected an onslaught from Leclerc astatine nan first corner.
Sergio Perez dropped down RB’s Daniel Ricciardo astatine nan first corner, aft trying to walk Leclerc, but recovered to return third.
Ricciardo drove an exceptional race, fighting a rearguard battle, to clasp disconnected Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari and Oscar Piastri’s McLaren to return fourth.
Lewis Hamilton was near disappointment by immoderate over-aggressive defence from Haas driver Kevin Magnussen successful eighth place, taking nan last constituent connected nan track.
But Hamilton was penalised for speeding successful nan pit lane and fixed a drive-through penalty, which added 20 seconds to his title clip and dropped him to 16th.
Magnussen earned himself 2 10-second penalties - 1 for leaving nan way and gaining an advantage and 1 for forcing Hamilton disconnected nan track.
The 2nd incident was particularly annoying for nan seven-time champion because it allowed RB’s Yuki Tsunoda to gaffe by for eighth spot aft Hamilton had spent 14 laps trying to walk nan Haas.
Hamilton, though, managed to reclaim nan spot connected nan last lap, only to beryllium deed pinch nan penalty.
Hamilton was besides progressive successful a first-corner incident that led to nan status of McLaren’s Lando Norris that will beryllium investigated by stewards.
Hamilton dived for nan wrong of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, who was pincered by nan Mercedes and his team-mate Lance Stroll connected nan outside. When nan 3 came together, Stroll bounced into Norris, who stopped successful nan run-off area and brought retired a information car for 3 laps.
Ricciardo started fourth, his champion capacity by acold successful a play that has been difficult for nan Australian truthful far, but utilized each his guile and acquisition to clasp disconnected Sainz and Piastri.
Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg took seventh.
At nan front, Verstappen was imperious arsenic always, but Leclerc hung connected good for overmuch of nan title to decorativeness 3.3 seconds behind.
Perez passed Ricciardo successful nan people of thigh 5 but could do thing astir Leclerc, who was much than comfortable successful holding disconnected nan 2nd Red Bull arsenic nan action each happened down nan apical three.
The drivers return to nan way astatine 16:00 section clip (21:00 BST) for qualifying for nan expansive prix.
