Miami Grand Prix: Max Verstappen’s statement win
Max Verstappen showed his dominance over Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez by winning the Miami Grand Prix from ninth place on the grid. Verstappen’s victory was all the more impressive because he easily overtook Perez in just 14 laps and extended his lead over him even after his pit stop. Christian Horner, Red Bull team principal, praised Verstappen’s “absolutely outstanding performance.”
Meanwhile, Perez struggled with his medium tires in the opening stint and couldn’t build the advantage he needed to stay ahead of Verstappen. He also pushed too hard in his second stint and cooked his tires, which sealed his fate. Verstappen’s win demonstrated his superior pace, tire management, and intelligence in driving, suggesting that Perez’s unexpected title challenge might turn out to be an illusion. The only negative point of the day was that Verstappen was booed during the razzmatazz showbiz build-up to the race and on the podium. However, Verstappen shrugged it off, saying it’s normal when you’re winning and they don’t like who is winning.