Formula 1: Verstappen withstood the pressure from Leclerc and won the Miami GP in another exciting finish

The champion is more alive than ever. After an irregular start to the season and some problems with his car, where he signed two withdrawals and a win on the first three dates of the year, Max Verstappen won his second consecutive win this Sunday by being crown in the first edition of the Miami Grand Prixfifth round of the Formula 1 calendar, and clarified that he was ready to fight in full force to defend the title he won last year.

In the middle of the show mounted on the street’s circuit Hard Rock Stadium, having several celebrities and an appearance around the track that transformed the public into one of the main stars of the weekend, the Dutchman from Red Bull won an extremely physically demanding race and moved Ferraris from to Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz in the lowest step of the podium. And because he also set the lap record in the final, he scored 26 points, which allowed him to close the gap further than Monegasque, who continue to lead the championship.

But of course, the advantage that until two races ago was nearly 50 points (Leclerc scored 1-2-1 in the first three in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Australia and got 46 from Verstappen) is just 19 now.

is that the Angry Max he scored 60 points in the last two dates. Two weeks ago, it wiped out Emilia Romagna Grand Prixin Imola, where he took the pole, won a new one Sprint and he prevailed in the final, with the best lap, to take 34 units and be 27 behind Ferrari. And in Miami, although Leclerc was quicker in qualifying and got the pole, the Dutchman was left with the most important test, with few emotions at the start, but a very tense end.

Under threats of rain and storms -which did not exceed there-, the Red Bull man started third, behind Leclerc and Sainz, and in the first corner he overtook the Spaniards to remain as an escort for in Monegasque. The Ferrari driver took the lead for the first nine laps, but began to suffer from tire damage and Verstappen stole the lead, with a good maneuver at the start straight away, taking advantage of the DRS. Then another race began.

As the Dutchman settled in front, he widened the distance to Leclerc and even hit the pitching technique to give up first place just moments (he did so in the 26th lap, after Monegasque, but before Sainz and his partner. Sergio Perezfourth).

But when the champion seemed to have victory in his pocket, a touch in between Pierre Gasley Y lando norriswhich he saw as hers McLaren lost a tire and was out of competition, forced to enter the Safety Car.

Upon restart, Leclerc, who was more than seven seconds off the post, came out to pressure Verstappen and was very close. But the Dutchman knew how to withstand his rival’s attacks, especially in the DRS zones, and first saw the checkered flag, followed by Leclerc and Sainz.

Behind the podium is Pérez (Red Bull); the Mercedes of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton (who again resented his teams after disagreeing with the pit approach while the Safety Car was on track); Valtteri Bottas with Alfa Romeo; Stephen Ocon and Fernando Alonso with Alpine; Y alexander albinwith Williams.

“What a race! Very tough, but very good. A good recovery from the start of the weekend, so we can be proud of that,” Verstappen cheered enthusiastically after crossing the finish line. “I think I need a drink,” he finished laughing when he got out of the car a few minutes later.

“I’m incredibly happy to have won. It’s been an amazing Sunday for us,” Mad Max said.

Meanwhile, Leclerc assured: “It was a very difficult race physically. We had some problems with the medium tires in the beginning. Eventually we became more competitive with the hard tires and I thought I could catch up with Max in one point, but now they have a pace advantage. We need to keep pushing, hopefully we can make a big step forward now. “

Monegasque continues to lead the championship with comfort. But he left Miami with the assurance that the 19 points he now got from Verstappen could be lost very quickly. It was the Dutchman, who was increasingly comfortable on top of his Red Bull, was on a roll. He has won 60 units in the last two races and this Sunday, he got a victory that could mark the start of the championship break.

The season is just beginning and there are many more appointments ahead: the next one, the Spanish Grand Prix, on May 22 in Catalonia. Verstappen knew it would not be easy for him to defend the title. But for now it seems to be heading in the right direction.