Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing dominated the Miami Grand Prix’s sprint race on Saturday, securing a comfortable victory ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. The Dutch driver, who is the reigning three-time World Champion and current championship leader, led from pole position and never looked back, finishing 3.3 seconds ahead of his closest rival.
Verstappen’s teammate, Sergio Perez, completed the podium in third place, giving Red Bull a strong points boost ahead of the main race on Sunday. Despite a strong start from Leclerc, Verstappen managed to hold him off and maintain his position at the front of the pack.
The race was not without its drama, with Haas’s Kevin Magnussen and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton engaging in a fierce battle on track. Magnussen ultimately received three penalties for repeatedly leaving the track and gaining an advantage, while Hamilton was penalized for speeding in the pit lane, dropping him to 16th place.
The safety car was deployed after a chaotic start line incident involving Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, Lance Stroll, and Lando Norris. However, Verstappen remained unfazed by the chaos around him, extending his lead and adding valuable points to his season tally with the victory.
Looking ahead to the main race on Sunday, Verstappen expressed confidence in his team’s performance but acknowledged that there is still room for improvement. With the championship battle heating up, all eyes will be on Verstappen as he aims for a third consecutive victory in Miami.