Formula 1 2024: Miami Grand Prix
Track Insights:
The Miami Grand Prix track, located in the vibrant city of Miami, Florida, has a rich history dating back to its debut in 1983. Originally known as the Grand Prix of Miami, the track was situated in Bayfront Park and featured a challenging street circuit that tested the skills of drivers from around the world. Over the years, the track underwent several modifications to improve safety and enhance the racing experience for both drivers and spectators. In 2019, plans were unveiled for a new circuit around the Hard Rock Stadium, signaling a new chapter in the history of the Miami Grand Prix track. With its combination of high-speed straights and technical corners, the Miami Grand Prix track continues to be a thrilling venue for Formula 1 racing.
This track sees drivers go through 19 curves, corners and chicanes. There are 3 DRS zone and a lap length of 5.412km. Drivers are tasked with circling this track 57 times for a total of 308.326km.
Starting Grid:
Pole Position: Max Verstappen: Red Bull
P2: Charles Leclerc: Ferrari
P3: Carlos Sainz: Ferrari
P4: Sergio Perez: Red Bull
P5: Lando Norris: Mclaren
P6: Oscar Piastri: Mclaren
P7: George Russell: Mercedes
P8: Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes
P9: Nico Hulkenberg: HAAS
P10: Yuki Tsunoda: VCRB
P11: Lance Stroll: Aston Martin
P12: Pierre Gasly: Alpine
P13: Esteban Ocon: Alpine
P14: Alex Albon: Williams
P15: Fernando Alonso: Aston Martin
P16: Valtteri Bottas: Sauber
P17: Logan Sargeant: Williams
P18: Daniel Riccardo: VCRB
P19: Kevin Magnussen: HAAS
P20: Zhou Guanyu: Sauber
Race Highlights:
OH. MY. GOODNESS! What a day for Mclaren! First and foremost Congratulations to Lando Norris on his first ever Formula 1 Grand Prix win. Let’s get into his practically perfect drive as well as what went right and what went wrong for who.
To start off, Red Bull nearly had a disaster of a race when Sergio Perez nearly crashed into teammate Max Verstappen at the very first turn of the race. I know what you’re thinking and stop it… while most of us would have loved to see another Verstappen DNF this season, his continuance in the race only validates Norris’ win that much more. Any who. For a good portion of the first 20 or so laps, everything looked pretty routine in the front of the pack. Verstappen’s Red Bull was out in front but not with the comfortable lead he has become accustomed to in previous seasons. He had both Ferraris, Mclarens, and his teammate right on him. We hit the 20 lap mark and the first set of box calls came out for the front runners with Perez going first and being followed closely by the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc. Right around this time, Verstappen decided he didn’t like the bollard sitting in the chicane at turn 14/15 and took it out. Literally. Hopped the curb and poof- no more cone. A virtual safety car was deployed and then it got interesting.
With the virtual safety car ending, Verstappen opted for his first pit stop at the end of lap 23, relinquishing his lead to Mclaren’s Oscar Piastri who was fending off Carlos Sainz in the Ferrari and his teammate Norris. It lasted for about 3/4 laps before both Piastri and Sainz pitted (around lap 27) and Norris took it from there and sped off. Not too long after this, around lap 27, a yellow flag was waved followed by another safety car after an incident involving the HAAS of Kevin Magnussen caused Logan Sargeant’s Williams (who was having one of his best drives of the season thus far) to go off the track and into the wall and out of the race. This is super important to the strategy of Norris’ race due to the fact that completing a pit stop under the safety car which would cause him to lose much less time and retain his P1 position.
The second safety car finally came off the track at the end of lap 32 and Lando got an impressive jump as soon as his path was clear. The last 20 or so saw various battles throughout the field. Norris and Verstappen were duking it out for 1st. His Papaya teammate would fight it out with Sainz’s Ferrari- even touching at one point, allowing Piastri to overtake, which the Spaniard took a considerable amount of time bitching about. Feeling that it was a penalty worthy act and that if Piastri gave him the position back, he wouldn’t get a penalty. However, the stewards felt that there was no penalty and allowed Piastri to keep his spot. Sainz’s teammate Charles Leclerc is continuing to show that he is in fact, worth the contract extension given to him and ended up on the podium as well in P3.
The Dutchman however had continuing issues regarding the handling of the car- saying that he couldn’t get the car to turn. Mclaren took the opportunity to get Norris as far out in front as possible-ending the race with an over 7-second lead on the Red Bull and first ever Grand Prix win for the 24-year-old British driver. And if you want to say he got lucky with the safety cars, it may have helped but you really didn’t see the race. Not to mention how happy literally every single driver was for him- Verstappen included. For Lando, it was never an if this would happen, it was always a when. The upgrades Mclaren brought were worth it this weekend and it proves they are just as in the hunt for the championship as Red Bull and Ferrari are. Who will come out on top in the end, we will have to wait and see.
Podium:
1st: Lando Norris: Mclaren (25)
2nd: Red Bull: Max Verstappen (18)
3rd: Ferrari: Charles Leclerc (15)
