Miami Grand Prix – The Best / Worst of the Editorial Staff

The TOP 3

1. Lando Norris thrilled

After 109 races and many podiums in recent seasons, Lando Norris was able to explode with joy as he crossed the finish line first in this Miami Grand Prix. Leading Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc by more than 7 seconds, the McLaren driver ran a perfect race by opting for a strategy that paid off handsomely.

Starting in fifth position on the grid, he was quickly hindered by Sergio Perez. But the 24-year-old driver took advantage of his competitors’ pit stops to pull away on the track and take the lead in this race. A cry of joy at the finish line and a first F1 victory for the McLaren driver who seems well on his way to overshadowing some drivers.

2. Esteban Ocon in the points

Alpine opens its points counter thanks to Esteban Ocon’s tenth place finish, and the point that comes with it. After a long period of drought, the Miami Grand Prix was a relief for the French team. Ocon managed to make the difference and crossed the finish line to collect his first point. A convincing result, but not enough for the French driver, who remains focused on the rest of the championship and the efforts to be made to keep up this good momentum.

(e) I am very happy for the team today. We are progressing little by little, making small improvements. I think we still lack performance because we can’t keep up with the cars that were with us. Hülkenberg a few more laps and it would have been close. Anyway, we managed to secure this point but we must not be satisfied with that, we must continue to push. It feels good to leave this weekend with a reward,” he said to Canal + microphone.

3. Yuki Tsunoda confident

He had shone during the Japanese Grand Prix by finishing in the points in tenth position, Yuki Tsunoda did it again this weekend during the Miami Grand Prix. The Floridian stay brought him seven points by finishing eighth at the end of the race. A great performance after a reassuring start to the weekend.

The Visa Cash App RB driver also finished eighth in the sprint race. He was able to respond in a better way than his teammate Daniel Ricciardo.

The FLOP 3

1. Total misunderstanding after the Safety Car’s release.

At turn 29, after the collision between Sargeant and Magnussen, the safety car was deployed…and positioned itself in the wrong place!

After a total misunderstanding, it turned out that the Safety Car had positioned itself in front of Max Verstappen, who was used to always being in the lead. For once, it wasn’t the triple world champion at the top of this race but rather Lando Norris. The Dutchman was significantly slowed down while the McLaren driver continued his race. A rare and exceptional situation that changed quite a lot during this Miami Grand Prix.

2. Magnussen, penalties champion

Magnussen’s weekend was much more complicated than that of his teammates. From the start of this Miami Grand Prix, the Dane was penalized after defending himself extremely aggressively, not to mention a few off-track excursions.

This earned him a 35-second penalty in the sprint race. Sunday’s race was no better for the Dane. After 29 laps, “K-Mag” collided with Logan Sargeant, causing the safety car to come out. He got away with a ten-second penalty. A very complicated start to the season for the Haas driver, whose status is already being called into question.

3. Gasly still struggling

Unlike his teammate, Esteban Ocon, who managed to earn Alpine’s very first points, difficulties continue to plague Pierre Gasly. Starting twelfth on the grid for the Miami Grand Prix, the Normandy native still makes a strong start with this battle against Ocon.

Unfortunately for him, this battle was short-lived. Alpine had decided otherwise. The French team simply wanted to pit Gasly early enough to let the second A524, the one of Gasly, stay on the track hoping to take advantage of the Safety Car or virtual safety car.

Pierre Gasly therefore stopped before his teammate, but the safety car literally ruined the Alpine driver’s race. Another weekend without points for N°10, who will have another chance to bounce back at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.

« I’m definitely a bit disgusted. The virtual Safety Car ruined our race. But the important thing is that the team scored a point. I think it will do a lot of good for everyone. On our side, we did the best we could. I think it was a great race, just frustrating not to leave with a few points,” the Frenchman said at the end of his race.