Red Bull Motorsports
F1
Top Five Moments From The Miami Grand Prix
Picking out the best bits from the inaugural race at the Miami International Autodrome.
This season is shaping up to be an incredible year and the first race in Miami added to that with a thrilling debut appearance. The fast and narrow track delivered entertainment from start to finish, and we’ve picked out five of our favourite moments from the race in the Sunshine State…
01
Max Powers Off The Line
With Max’s RB18 struggling in the early sessions of the race weekend, there was apprehension about how it would perform off the line. However, that doubt went out of everyone’s minds when the lights went out and Max powered off the line. Starting in third, on the clean side of the grid, he fired down the short stretch to turn one. Max was able to pull alongside second-placed Carlos Sainz and taking a wide line into the first corner he held his line to pass the Spaniard and slot into second.
Let's Go Bulls
© Vladimir Rys
02
Move To The Front
After getting past Sainz, Max shadowed Leclerc for the following few laps, just outside of the one-second DRS range. However, on lap eight he was inside the one second time zone for him to enable DRS and closed right up to the Ferrari down the long back straight. Max couldn’t make the move stick into turn 17, but as they crossed the line to begin lap nine, Max activated DRS again and swept past the championship leader into turn one to take the lead.
After that, the Bull was on the charge and Max quickly began to build a gap and midway through lap 12, the Dutchman’s advantage was already at 2.5s.
Wheel To Wheel Racing In Miami
© Oracle Red Bull Racing
03
Fastest Pit Crew In The Paddock – Again
Going into Miami, the Oracle Red Bull Racing pit crew already had the fastest pit stop of 2.7s, which they collected in Australia. However, the Team are nothing if not cool under pressure, and they proved that on Lap 26. Max came in for his change of tyres and was back out of the pit box in just 2.4-seconds, comprehensively beating the time set in Australia.
Max In Miami Paradise
© Vladimir Rys
04
Those Last 10 laps!
When Lando Norris and Pierre Gasly collided on lap 41 it caused a virtual safety car and then the safety car to be deployed. This now meant second place Leclerc was back in contention, as before the safety car had been deployed, Max had built up a gap of more than seven-seconds.
The safety car went back into the pits at the end of lap 46, leaving just 10 laps of the race remaining. Once DRS had been re-activated Leclerc was within a second of Max, but the Dutchman was driving the wheels off his RB18 and able to keep the Ferrari driver at bay.
Leclerc tried to take the win away from Max by piling on the pressure, but the Bull was able to keep him behind. With a couple of laps left, Max had made a gap of more than one second and was able to power to the chequered flag.
Magic Team Celebrations
© Vladimir Rys
05
Max Cements His Name In The History Books
With Max taking the win and the fastest lap of the first-ever Miami Grand Prix he puts himself into the history books. Winning the first race at the Miami International Autodrome will always be referred back to, especially as the race is scheduled to be on the calendar for the next 10 years.
The win was Max’s 23rd of his career, his 63rd podium and his 18th fastest lap. We can’t wait to see just what those numbers get to!
Victory For Max At Inaugural Race In Miami
© Getty Images
