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On Sunday, May 5, 2024, at the Miami International Autodrome in Miami Gardens, Florida, USA, the Miami Grand Prix, the sixth race of the Formula 1 World Championship, will take place. A few days before the start of the weekend, exactly on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, the FIA modified the regulations for judging a potential false start. Previously, the stewards could not penalise a driver for a false start if it was not detected by a transponder. This rule allowed British McLaren driver Lando Norris to avoid a penalty despite visibly moving early at the start of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The regulation update allows the stewards to penalise a driver if they move before the start, even if the transponder does not register the infraction. The regulation also clarifies that false starts will be judged after the four-second lights turn on and before the signal is given by the extinguishing of all red lights. A week before the Miami Grand Prix, the second meeting of the year of the F1 Commission takes place in Geneva, Switzerland. The topics discussed concern changes to the allocation of World Championship points, technical and sporting regulation changes, and pre-World Championship tests for 2025 following options presented by the advisory sports committee. The members of the meeting discussed a proposal to modify the distribution of World Championship points, as described in articles 6.4 and 6.5 of the sporting regulations. However, it is evident that further analysis of the proposed changes is necessary with a view to presenting a proposal at the next meeting in July. Following discussions during the recent advisory sports committee, an agreement was reached regarding the proposal for the dates and locations of pre-season tests for 2025, which will be presented to Formula One Management for further consideration. The introduction of rear cameras will begin from the Spanish Grand Prix. Additionally, some minor changes to the sporting and financial regulations are approved. In Miami, Scuderia Ferrari will race with a special livery in homage to the seventieth anniversary of the Maranello constructor in America. It features inserts in two shades of blue, La Plata and Dino. These shades are also present on the helmets and cars of the two drivers.
Furthermore, on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, the team announced the start of a collaboration with the American multinational company HP, which became the title sponsor of the Maranello team. The team, therefore, changed its name to Scuderia Ferrari HP. Connecting two of the world’s most iconic companies, the partnership features a shared commitment to advance sustainable innovation and accelerate purposeful technology across the Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 team, the Scuderia Ferrari Esports team, and the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy. In addition, the HP logo will make its debut on the Maranello F1 cars ahead of the Miami Grand Prix scheduled for May 3-5, when the team will start competing as Scuderia Ferrari HP. The Scuderia Ferrari Esports team and the Scuderia Ferrari car driven by Maya Weug in the all-female F1 Academy series launched in 2023, will also race using the new moniker. HP and Ferrari are committed to accelerate sustainable innovation whether through technology or sport. The companies will also work together to expand educational initiatives within their teams and communities and create a lasting impact for generations to come. As part of the partnership, the integration of HP’s high-performance products and services, including adaptive PCs and devices, conferencing technology, and printing capabilities, will enable Scuderia Ferrari HP and the other racing teams of the Prancing Horse to turbo charge training precision and optimise strategic decision-making, on and off the track. Ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, representatives from both organisations will be present for the reveal of the Scuderia Ferrari HP livery, which will debut in a unique edition specifically designed for Miami. Ferrari CEO, Benedetto Vigna, Scuderia Ferrari HP’s Team Principal Fred Vasseur, the team’s drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr., and HP CEO, Enrique Lores will be in attendance. Says Benedetto Vigna, CEO of Ferrari:
"Our founder passed on to us his continuous will to progress. From this stems our drive to innovate on the road and on the track, as well as our commitment to a sustainable future, from carbon neutrality to the education of the younger generation. In HP we have found the same values, which make it an ideal partner. We look forward to starting our collaboration and facing new opportunities and challenges together".
And adds Enrique Lores, CEO of HP Inc:
"With technology, performance and exceptional craftsmanship fuelling the future, the partnership between HP and Ferrari is a natural fit. Both brands are built on rich histories that have endured the test of time. Through this unique collaboration, we also have an opportunity to reach new audiences, drive business growth, and create lasting impact for our shared clients and communities. Together we will leverage the global stage of racing to accelerate sustainable innovation".
Racing Bulls will also compete with a special livery inspired by the colours of the Cash App Visa Chameleon Card, a metal prepaid Visa card characterised by rainbow colors. On Friday, April 26, 2024, Nico Hülkenberg signed a contract with Sauber for the following season. Hülkenberg has already raced for the Hinwil team in the 2013 season, achieving his best result with a fourth-place finish at the Korean Grand Prix. Ayao Komatsu, team principal of Haas, states:
"I want to thank Nico for his contribution to the team during his time here with us. He is a true team player and a pleasure to work with. His experience and insights have proven invaluable to us in terms of improving our overall performance, as is clearly evident in his qualifying and race performances with the VF-24 this season. There are still many races to go this year, so we look forward to continuing to benefit from his contributions for the rest of the 2024 season".
But, above all, what shocks the entire Formula 1 world happens on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, when Oracle Red Bull Racing announces that Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey will leave the Red Bull Technology Group in the first quarter of 2025. The engineering supremo will step back from Formula One design duties to focus on final development and delivery of Red Bull’s first hypercar, the hugely anticipated RB17. He will remain involved in and committed to this exciting project until its completion. Since joining Red Bull Racing in 2006, Adrian’s vision and technical leadership has been instrumental for the Team and Group in achieving a remarkable seven F1 Drivers’ and six Constructors’ Championship titles - totalling 118 victories and 101 poles including the STR 2008 pole and victory. Oracle Red Bull Racing Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey said:
"Ever since I was a young boy, I wanted to be a designer of fast cars. My dream was to be an engineer in Formula One, and I’ve been lucky enough to make that dream a reality. For almost two decades it has been my great honour to have played a key role in Red Bull Racing’s progress from upstart newcomer to multiple title-winning Team. However, I feel now is an opportune moment to hand that baton over to others and to seek new challenges for myself. In the interim, the final stages of development of RB17 are upon us, so for the remainder of my time with the Team my focus will lie there. I would like to thank the many amazing people I have worked with at Red Bull in our journey over the last 18 years for their talent, dedication and hard work. It has been a real privilege, and I am confident that the engineering team is well prepared for the work going into the final evolution of the car under the four-year period of this regulation set. On a personal note, I would also like to thank the shareholders, the late Dietrich Mateschitz, Mark Mateschitz and Chalerm Yoovidhya for their unwavering support during my time at Red Bull, and Christian, who has not only been my business partner but also a friend of our respective families. Also, thanks to Oliver Mintzlaff for his stewardship and Eddie Jordan, my close friend and manager".
Oracle Red Bull Racing Team Principal and CEO Christian Horner said:
"All of our greatest moments from the past 20 years have come with Adrian’s hand on the technical tiller. His vision and brilliance have helped us to 13 titles in 20 seasons. His exceptional ability to conceptualise beyond F1 and bring wider inspiration to bear on the design of grand prix cars, his remarkable talent for embracing change and finding the most rewarding areas of the rules to focus on, and his relentless will to win have helped Red Bull Racing to become a greater force than I think even the late Dietrich Mateschitz might have imagined. More than that, the past 19 years with Adrian have been enormous fun".
So, he adds:
"For me, when Adrian joined Red Bull, he was already a superstar designer. Two decades and 13 Championships later he leaves as a true legend. He is also my friend and someone I will be eternally grateful to for everything he brought to our partnership. The legacy he leaves behind will echo through the halls of Milton Keynes and RB17 Track Car will be a fitting testament and legacy to his time with us".
Adrian’s first true design for the Team, RB3, achieved a podium finish at the 2007 European Grand Prix. The following year his design achieved the Group’s first victory with Sebastian Vettel and Toro Rosso at the Italian GP. Following regulation changes and a unique ability to capitalise on them - something that has become a hallmark of Adrian’s stellar Red Bull Racing journey - his clean sheet RB5 design brought the Team its first win, at the Chinese Grand Prix in 2009, and five further victories that season. In 2010 RB6 carried the Team to its first double title victory, an achievement that was repeated in each of the following three years. The introduction of hybrid power to F1 in 2014 led to leaner times and a first step back from sole F1 commitment for Adrian to allow creation of the Valkyrie hypercar. The arrival of Honda as the Team’s power unit partner in 2019 reignited his competitive spark. RB16B brought a first Championship in eight years in 2021. An extensive regulation change for the following season resulted in another clean sheet design, the RB18, leading to a new era of dominance starting in 2022 and continuing to this day. Following this announcement, it is normal for the entire Circus world to speculate that Adrian Newey may decide to collaborate with Scuderia Ferrari, realising his dream of working with Lewis Hamilton and the Maranello team. In this regard, the British driver says:
"Working with Newey? I would love that very much. Adrian has a history, a track record, and we all know the results he has achieved. It would be a privilege to work with him. With all the knowledge he has, it would be a huge asset. There are already many talented people working at Ferrari, and the progress they are making proves it, but if I were to make a list of people I would like to work with, he would be at the top. It would be an extraordinary addition".
Then, the answer was accompanied by an eloquent smile:
"We'll see".
Regarding the question about the real chances of seeing Newey at Ferrari. Finally, Hamilton gives his opinion on the possible weakening of Red Bull:
"I wouldn't take for granted that they suddenly stop having a competitive car. We're talking about teamwork, it's not about just one person".
This announcement leads many to think that within Red Bull Racing something may be broken, although in fact it is not true. But journalists take advantage of the situation to speculate about the future of Max Verstappen, and about an alleged $150 million offer from Mercedes, the Anglo-German team being in search of the right driver to replace the departing Lewis Hamilton. In this regard, the Dutch driver says:
"Even if the $150 million offer were true, it wouldn’t be the deciding factor for me to transfer. I am already happy with what I am earning; the important thing is performance. So, for now, my future is with Red Bull. I know myself that if I were driving for fifth or sixth position, I would become quite irritable with myself. It’s always a matter of performance: everyone knows it, Toto knows it too".
And he adds:
"Do I find it strange that he is courting me? No, I think everyone should always be optimistic. I want to stay with the team because I believe in the project, but in the end, you never know what might happen in the future".
Returning to the main topic, namely Adrian Newey's departure, Red Bull Racing's team principal, Christian Horner, emphasizes that he had been aware of the English designer's intentions for quite some time and that it has nothing to do with recent events, namely the alleged accusations of harassment by the English manager towards an employee:
"We knew this would happen for some time and had planned the succession in the technical team, which Adrian helped create. He felt it was time to step aside. He has been working hard in the team for 20 years and thought this was the right time. The team is in great shape, he thought it was time to take a break and leave the work to the rest of the technical team. Seeing him leave is sad because he has been such an important part of our team and always will be. Life will be a bit different without Adrian, but we are in great condition. I know there is a lot of speculation about it, but honestly, I think he will take some time off. Then who knows what the future holds, we don’t know if he will decide to return to F1 after a while. You never know, it’s hard to speculate. We are very grateful for the 20 years spent together and I believe it has been his longest period, a fantastic ride".
Speaking about the future organisation at Red Bull Racing, Christian Horner says:
"Adrian is a unique character, a free spirit. He has been working a limited number of days in recent years, so the structure will not change. Adrian will no longer be part of that structure; he will focus on the RB17, the car we are producing which will be a sort of legacy of his time at Red Bull. From now until the end of his contract, he will focus on this. We have won four Grands Prix out of five. Everyone is focused on the races, and there is a wonderful environment. Adrian has decided to step back and take some time off, and I believe he has earned it. It is something he has thought about for a long time, and I believe it is the right time having a strong team. Life goes on; it is an important chapter in Red Bull’s history, and now a new one begins".
The following day, Thursday, May 2, 2024, BWT Alpine F1 Team announced the appointment of David Sanchez as Executive Technical Director, marking a return to Enstone for the French engineer. In the newly created role, David will oversee the technical department based at Enstone and will have overall responsibility for the Performance, Engineering, and Aerodynamic areas of the team. David will manage the three key areas that fall under the recently announced three-pillared technical structure, with Ciaron Pilbeam (Technical Director - Performance), Joe Burnell (Technical Director - Engineering), and David Wheater (Technical Director - Aerodynamics) all reporting to him. The Frenchman will join the team today and will report directly to Team Principal and VP, Alpine Motorsports, Bruno Famin. David started his career in Formula 1 at Enstone as a Junior Aerodynamicist for the Renault F1 Team in 2005, the same year the team won both Drivers' and Constructors' World Championships. He brings with him a wealth of experience working for top teams in Formula 1 with successful stints at McLaren and Ferrari. He remained in Maranello for over 10-years where he led the Aerodynamics department and later worked as Head of Vehicle Concept. Bruno Famin, Team Principal, BWT Alpine F1 Team and VP, Alpine Motorsports, says:
"I am delighted to welcome David back to Enstone, where he started his career back in 2005. This is a key appointment to ensure we are optimising everything we do as a team and focusing on the right performance areas. It is clear that the performance of the car and development path has not moved at a sufficient pace relative to our ambitions as a team. We look forward to welcoming David and working hard together to achieve the ultimate success".
David Sanchez, Executive Technical Director, BWT Alpine F1 Team, says:
"I'm excited by this challenge at Alpine. I'm looking forward to working at Enstone again, the place where I started my Formula 1 career. This team has always had so many fantastic people involved and there is clearly so much potential to unlock. We have a big task ahead to improve on-track performance and it is this type of challenge that motivates me. I'm very much ready to begin and look forward to working with the Enstone-Viry technical teams again with the sole aim of bringing regular success back to this great team".
For the Miami Grand Prix, Pirelli, the sole tyre supplier, offers the choice between C2, C3, and C4 compound tyres, which represent the middle range of the types of tyres provided by the Italian company. Meanwhile, the FIA confirms the three zones established in the inaugural edition where the Drag Reduction System (DRS) can be used. These zones are located respectively between turns 10 and 11, with the detection point set after turn 8, between turns 16 and 17, with the detection point set after turn 16, and on the main pit straight, with the detection point set after turn 17. In the previous edition, the activation points for the mobile device in the zone between turns 10 and 11 and the zone between turns 16 and 17 were moved 75 meters forward, being positioned 105 meters after turn 9 and 525 meters after turn 16, respectively. The Miami International Autodrome is the second circuit, after Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, where three zones for the use of the mobile device have been established from its inception. Compared to the 2023 edition, the circuit has undergone some modifications. The entrance to the pit lane has been moved towards turn 19. New openings for the track marshals are installed on the left side at the exit of turn 3, on the right side between turn 3 and turn 4, and on both sides of the track after turn 8 and between turn 9 and turn 10. The walls and protective barriers are realigned in the runoff area of turn 5, as well as the walls on the left side between turn 16 and turn 17 near the medical center and the pedestrian bridge. A new curved wall is introduced at the apex of turn 14 on the left side. Before the Sprint, the new curved wall introduced at the apex of turn 14 on the left side is removed. A new deterrent is placed at the apex of turn 16 on the left side, and the pit lane entry line is extended with a dashed line. After another podium finish in Shanghai, Lando Norris is looking forward to testing himself again on the Miami circuit in the United States. McLaren, in this Grand Prix, will bring new updates to the car, and the British driver hopes that these will make the team take another leap forward:
"I'm looking forward to returning to Miami. It's the first US race of the year, and the fans always bring such an electric atmosphere. We had a positive race in China, securing our second podium of the season. I had time to celebrate with the team in MTC and go over the data ahead of Miami with my engineers. I'm sure it will be a challenging weekend, but nothing we cannot overcome. Everyone has done a great job to put us in a good position to improve further. Let's go".
Oscar Piastri is also looking forward to getting back into the game, as his McLaren is quickly catching up to its rivals:
"Miami Grand Prix up next and I'm really looking forward to racing on American soil for the first time this season. It's only my second time at this circuit but there was a really cool atmosphere last year and I'm excited to experience it again, especially given the fans come out in full force. I'll be sporting a new special helmet based on the classic Miami colours, that I think looks really cool. I loved the energy around the event last year so I was inspired to create a special design this time. We've reflected on China as a team and I've spent some time in the sim back at the MTC so I can't wait to touch down in the US".
Andrea Stella, McLaren Team Principal, explains that compared to the Shanghai circuit, where McLaren would face problems due to the layout of the track, performance should improve in Miami. And if the team finished on the podium in China, one can only imagine what they can aspire to in this circumstance:
"After demonstrating strong pace in China, we now head to Miami for the very different demands of a street circuit, in the first of three visits to the US this season. The Miami Grand Prix is another busy Sprint event and combined with the challenging nature of the circuit and potentially warmer weather, there are both opportunities and challenges that the team are preparing for. We are ready once again to maximise our performance and continue to compete at the front of the field".
Mercedes faced quite a few problems in Shanghai after changing the set-up at the end of qualifying. Team Principal and Mercedes CEO Toto Wolff hopes not to repeat the experience in China again and turn around the fortunes of the team, which has not been showing great competitiveness since the beginning of the year:
"We're ready for Miami and the first US race of the year. It is a challenging circuit and, with the second Sprint of 2024, will provide another interesting test for the team. We didn't perform at our best in China, making too many set-up changes ahead of Qualifying. That put us on the back foot for the rest of the weekend, although both drivers did well to bring home points. We will be looking to put in a stronger showing in Miami and optimise the car. We know we need to add more performance and will bring our first small upgrades of the season this weekend. Miami is one of the busiest off-track events of the year for the team too. We've already enjoyed a fantastic few days in New York with our partner WhatsApp. It's great to see the growth of both their brand and F1 in the US, to such an extent that we took over the Empire State Building and held a demonstration run down Fifth Avenue. It highlights the impact of our sport in the US, and we look forward to building on that growth. We have a full schedule of events in Florida and look forward to a positive week on and off the track".
Frédéric Vasseur, Team Principal of Scuderia Ferrari HP, like his friend Toto Wolff, pauses to talk about the upcoming Sprint Race, which will take place on Saturday before the Miami Grand Prix:
"Once again, we are dealing with the Sprint format that saw us struggle a bit in China. But this is a very different type of circuit and one where we can count on the data we have acquired over the past two seasons. We expect to do better than in Shanghai and I believe we have the potential to do so, especially as we are so close behind the championship leader. Once again, it will be important to make the most of the only free practice session, especially to work on qualifying, where recently, we have struggled more than we should have done. This is a special weekend for the company and the team as it marks the debut of our new title partner, HP. We will all be doing our very best to get this collaboration off to the best possible start".
Carlos Sainz Jr., instead, talks about Scuderia Ferrari's decision to repurpose the colour blue, which was used for mechanics' and drivers' overalls in the 1960s:
"Ferrari has a great tradition and it’s nice now and again to be able to revisit some of its history as we have done this weekend. The aim is to do better than in China, where we finished outside the top three. I think the characteristics of this track could suit our car better, although we have to consider that nearly all our competitors have brought updates for their cars here and we haven’t done so yet. But I’m still reasonably optimistic although we will only know more tomorrow after the one free practice session. I think this city is very special, there are a lot of people who speak my language and even if we are in North America, life has a pleasant Latin feel to it. I really enjoy walking around Miami Beach and the downtown area and I think this is one of the best places to eat in the United States, which is another reason why I am always very happy to come and race around here".
Charles Leclerc, like his teammate, also pays homage to the blue colour chosen for this occasion:
"This is one of my favourite colours, so I’m very happy to wear it. Sure, when you walk past a mirror and see yourself in blue, for a moment you think you made a mistake getting dressed. Once in a while you can have a change, even if a Ferrari can only be red and as you see the red has stayed on the SF-24, even if we’ve added a bit of light blue here and there, as well as the logo of HP, our new title partner. We believe we’ve learned some things from China in terms of preparing for a qualifying lap and also in working procedures for a Sprint. With this format, it will be vital to get everything right immediately so as not to start off with a handicap. We’ve done a lot of preparation and I can’t wait to get out on track to check out the work we did last week".
On Thursday, May 2, 2024, the stewards granted an exemption from curfew for Aston Martin and Ferrari representatives involved in the British team's review right regarding the penalty imposed on Spanish driver Fernando Alonso in the Chinese Sprint Race, allowing them to be within the circuit boundaries from 7:45 a.m. on Friday, May 3, 2024. Before the start of the free practice session, the second unit related to the internal combustion engine, turbocharger, MGU-H, and MGU-K was installed on Charles Leclerc's car, Carlos Sainz Jr., Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris, Lance Stroll, Fernando Alonso, Valtteri Bottas, and Zhou Guanyu. On Piastri's, Norris's, Stroll's, and Alonso's cars, the second unit related to the exhaust system was installed, and on Leclerc's and Sainz Jr.'s cars, the third unit of the same component. Additionally, Norris's car received the second gearbox and second transmission, while Max Verstappen's car got the third transmission. These drivers will not receive penalties as the new components installed fell within the maximum allowed by technical regulations. On Friday, May 3, 2024, the only free practice session concluded with Max Verstappen setting the fastest time, ahead of Oscar Piastri and Carlos Sainz Jr. The other Ferrari driver, Charles Leclerc, spun at Turn 16 early in the session. The Monegasque driver failed to restart the car, ending the session with only three laps completed. Lando Norris was also off the pace due to a steering issue. Both Mercedes and Lance Stroll's Aston Martin showed competitive performance, while Fernando Alonso focused on race pace ahead of the Miami Grand Prix. A few hours later, at the start of Sprint Qualifying, Charles Leclerc was the first to take to the track but ruined his first fast lap with a driving error. Guanyu Zhou set an initial benchmark time, significantly beaten by Lance Stroll, while Fernando Alonso failed to improve on the Canadian driver's time. Carlos Sainz Jr. set the fourth fastest time, and Lando Norris moved up to third place. Sergio Perez's fastest time was soon bettered by Max Verstappen, who clocked a 1'28"601. Oscar Piastri slotted in between the two Red Bull Racing drivers, trailing the World Champion by 0.038s. Lewis Hamilton, who set the best time in the first sector, finished fifth, shortly overtaken by his teammate George Russell.
Yuki Tsunoda then climbed to fourth place. Charles Leclerc also made his way into the top group, while Fernando Alonso touched a barrier. Carlos Sainz Jr. later secured fourth place, with Leclerc posting the third fastest time, trailing Max Verstappen by 0.053s. Oscar Piastri was subsequently disturbed by Valtteri Bottas, who complained over the radio about not being warned of the McLaren approaching, as Lando Norris set the benchmark at 1'27"939; Max Verstappen, however, failed to improve on the British McLaren driver's time, remaining 0.255s adrift. Later on, Daniel Ricciardo climbed to ninth place, ahead of Lewis Hamilton, while Kevin Magnussen moved up to third. Logan Sargeant, despite setting the best sector time in sector three, remained last. Fernando Alonso made gains in the standings, rising to second place, but his joy was short-lived as the Aston Martin driver lost a position to Oscar Piastri. Eliminated are Gasly, Zhou, Bottas, Sargeant, and Albon. In the following session, Sergio Perez completed the first timed lap, setting a time of 1'27"865, with Charles Leclerc trailing by 0.112s. Fernando Alonso slotted in behind the Monegasque driver, but moments later, Daniel Ricciardo and Oscar Piastri managed to set faster times. Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz Jr. positioned himself just behind his compatriot, and shortly after, Lando Norris took the lead in the standings with a lap time of 1'27"597. Daniel Ricciardo brushed the wall at turn 16 but his car sustained no damage. Later on, Max Verstappen returned to the track, opting to complete only one timed lap during Q2. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell also rejoined the track as they are in danger of elimination. The World Champion moved up to fourth place, while Lewis Hamilton brushed a wall and set the twelfth fastest time. George Russell also failed to set a sufficient time to enter Q3. Apart from the two Mercedes drivers, Ocon, Magnussen, and Tsunoda also missed out on Q3. Until midway through Q3, no drivers decided to head out on track.
Then, everyone headed out simultaneously, causing chaos as less than four minutes remained in Q3. Nico Hülkenberg ended his attempt with a lap time of 1'28"476, but his time was surpassed by Sergio Perez, who clocked in at 1'27"876. Max Verstappen performed even better, being the fastest in all three sectors and setting a time of 1'27"641. Daniel Ricciardo was third, 0.4s behind Max Verstappen. The two McLaren drivers, competitive in the earlier phases, made mistakes: Lando Norris ended up seventh, while Oscar Piastri moved up to sixth place. Shortly after, Charles Leclerc set the second fastest time while Carlos Sainz Jr. settled for fifth. Max Verstappen secured his seventh Sprint race pole position of his career, and the first of the season. The World Champion extends his record as the driver with the most pole positions in Sprint Races out of fourteen sessions held since their introduction in the 2021 season. The Dutch Red Bull Racing driver says at the end of Sprint Qualifying:
"The practice session was really nice and I felt really confident and comfortable with the car. Honestly, I am quite surprised that we got P1 for the Sprint qualifying; it felt a bit different as I couldn’t really push or feel too confident on the tyres and get a nice balance on the car. On a track surface like this, it means that if you are a little bit out with the tyres it makes a big difference, but I think everyone else particularly struggled with the final run on the soft tyres. We have a few things to analyse and question why it felt a bit different from qualifying, but we should get it together fine for tomorrow. All in all, we have a great starting position for the Sprint and hopefully we can maximise this. Once the tyres stabilise, we should be back on track".
And he adds:
"Honestly, my lap felt terrible to me. Maybe it was just terribly difficult for everyone to make the tyres work in Q3. I had similar issues already in Q2 and didn't improve much with the soft tyres. Somehow we ended up in first place and I'm happy with this positive surprise, but it didn't feel enjoyable to drive today. In free practice, I was comfortable and confident, but in qualifying, I struggled a lot. Close margins? Honestly, I don't know if it's just from the single FP session; it could also depend on the type of track. After practice, I was confident, thinking I could fight for pole position. Then in qualifying, it didn't seem that way, but it turned out well. I don't know what happened to everyone else on their final lap".
At the end of Sprint Qualifying, Sergio Perez pauses to talk about the difficulties he faced during the session, as he did not have many sets of tyres available:
"It was a tricky session, we had one shot on that Soft compound but we just didn’t maximise it and we got caught out a little bit with the grip, it changed here and there. Given that we only had a single go on that Soft tyre it is down to a bit of luck about what the car is going to do. It is very challenging to go from just one practice into qualifying but it’s the same for everyone. I think the McLarens were the fastest cars out there, but they just couldn’t work it out on the Soft compound. We have some work to do there and hopefully by tomorrow we can work it out. The aim will be to get as many points as possible in the Sprint and then we will go from there into the race. I think we are heading in the right direction and hopefully we can see a stronger race pace".
Despite the P6 set during Sprint Qualifying, Oscar Piastri is not all in all unhappy:
"P6. Not too bad, all things considered. It could have been a slightly smoother run on the Soft tyre but it's still a decent starting spot for the Sprint. I think a few cars are a little bit out of position, so it will be interesting to see what we can do tomorrow as the car seems quick. Even without the full upgrade package we've made a step forward, so thank you to the team for getting us to this point".
Lando Norris is also happy, although a mistake in SQ3 did not allow him to set a better time:
"The car was feeling very good throughout the session. In SQ3 we just seemed to overheat the tyres in the first sector which compromised the rest of the lap, but the team have done a good job getting the upgrades here and they are working. I'm happy with the progress we've made. The pace of the car is very good, let's see what we can do tomorrow".
Andrea Stella, Team Principal McLaren, is regretful because during SQ3 the cars did not allow drivers to qualify in the front rows of the grid:
"We saw really strong performance from the car in Sprint Qualifying but ultimately, it wasn't rewarded in the session that counted. Both drivers had issues on the Soft tyre that compromised the final result. However, we definitely take encouragement from the pace we've seen today. This is just the start of the weekend, and there are many opportunities to capitalise on the strength of the upgraded car we've brought to Miami. It's been a great effort from the team at the factory to get it here, and we look forward to rewarding that effort with strong results over the weekend".
On the other hand, Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner is very happy, as he did not expect to see his two cars so far ahead on the grid:
"It was a very good qualifying for us in the end and it looked for a while in SQ2, on the Medium tyre, that we weren't potentially the strongest car. The wind was definitely a factor today but I think both drivers did a very good job and to line up first and third was more than we were expecting. You could hear the surprise in Max's voice on the slowdown lap because he didn't feel the lap had actually been good enough to capture the pole, it was just evident that everybody was struggling with the conditions. It all came together in the end and it's great to be starting on the front, first and third for tomorrow's race, but still a lot to do".
Unfortunately, the Mercedes team's expectations were betrayed by two disappointing results. George Russell, for example, could not get beyond 11th place, failing to qualify for SQ3:
"In FP1, the Soft tyre was feeling really good on our car. The pace was looking good but on the Medium compound in Sprint Qualifying, we just couldn't get the car in the sweet spot. We found ourselves on the wrong side of the cut-off. It was very tight out there, with just a few hundredths of a second making it through to SQ3. We shouldn't have been that close to being knocked out though and we will work hard this evening to find improvements. I've got no doubt we will move forward in the Sprint tomorrow. We need to get over our qualifying woes as it is always difficult starting on the back foot".
Lewis Hamilton, like his teammate, says that after the first free practice session the behaviour of the car changed, allowing neither him nor his teammate to enter SQ3:
"The car felt really good in FP1, and I was happy with the balance. Unfortunately, in Sprint Qualifying, the balance changed, and the car regressed. We were close to making it through to SQ3, but we were a decent chunk off from the front runners. Starting from P12, the Sprint will be tough for us. I am not expecting a huge amount from there as it is not an easy circuit to either follow or overtake at. We will be trying our best to get the car into the points though".
Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director, draws a technical balance of this first day of testing:
"We are understandably disappointed with how today unfolded. The team worked through a full programme in FP1 and both drivers were happy with the balance of the car. We opted to make changes that were relatively minor ahead of Sprint Qualifying, aiming to retain that goodness in the afternoon session. Unfortunately, and as we have seen on numerous occasions this year, we were unable to take the step that others were capable of in the session that mattered. The field was close, but we will not look to make excuses as to why both our cars were knocked out in SQ2. We need to do a better job of keeping the car in the right window and delivering the potential that we are showing in earlier sessions. The aim in the Sprint is to get both cars into the points. We know that will be a challenge from P11 and P12 but we will be fully focused on doing so. We will also be looking to use the Sprint to further our understanding of the car and to put it in a better place for Qualifying and the Grand Prix later in the weekend".
On the other hand, someone who can be satisfied of the work done is Charles Leclerc, who managed to qualify in second place at the end of Sprint Qualifying:
"The hard work I put in to get the tyres in the right window has paid off, so I'm happy. There's a lot of talking in this sport; people only remember your last race, and as soon as you have a couple of bad qualifying sessions and don't do a great job, people start talking. It was nice to put an end to that, but now we need to work on consistency and maintain this level, keeping the tyres in the right window as I have done in the past. I'm pleased because qualifying has been a weak point in the last two weekends, even though it went slightly better in China, we didn't have the car to show these improvements. The weekend started off difficult because unfortunately I had a crash in practice, so I had to approach qualifying by going flat out immediately. Then I had to use another set of tyres in Q1, so it was complicated, but I found the right feelings immediately. I have no idea about our pace; I hope to have a good Sprint and to have a great starting pace for Sunday".
While Carlos Sainz Jr. is not happy, as he too says the behaviour of the car changed after the first free practice session:
"It hasn’t been a great Friday. The feeling in the car changed between sessions and we struggled more during the Sprint Qualifying. The lap on the Soft tyre however was coming together more or less ok, but I went for it into turn 17 and made a costly mistake which dropped me to P5. Tomorrow we'll try to recover and then we have another chance to work on the car and turn it around for the Grand Prix qualifying and the main race on Sunday".
Frédéric Vasseur, Team Principal Scuderia Ferrari HP, adds:
"Today we saw a situation similar to last weekend’s qualifying when the circumstances can change massively from one compound to another, while being very close between the top three or four teams. Both our drivers felt more comfortable on the soft compound and we can be quite pleased with how things went. Charles did particularly well, after not really taking part in this morning’s free practice. Carlos was matching him up until the last sector where he lost a bit of time. It’s quite difficult to have a clear picture regarding tomorrow’s race because we, along with many others, didn’t do a long run. We will use the Sprint race as part of our preparation for Sunday and see if the set-up choices we made will give us an advantage in terms of tyre management. We will need a good start, especially for Carlos, but I think we have our chances".
After receiving so much criticism in the last period because of some performances that certainly did not live up to his reputation. Daniel Ricciardo managed to qualify in P4, with his Racing Bull, at the end of Sprint Qualifying. An unexpected and surprising result, both for the Australian driver and the Italian team:
"I feel really good about today, I have some good confidence in the car and the second row is awesome! The team brought updates to the last few races, changed my chassis at the previous race in China, and brought a new floor here in Miami. Things look like they’re turning around and I’m very proud of what the team and myself did today. We had a good session starting from SQ1, even if I made a mistake in the first lap, so we were putting ourselves under a bit of pressure. Then I found a good lap and we started to build up from SQ2. I’m a bit surprised to be P4 with my lap because I expected to be a lot quicker with the soft compound. Instead, the soft tyres didn’t give much more compared to the mediums. I touched the wall twice; I told the team that I was definitely trying to get everything out of it. Let’s see what happens in the Sprint race, but it’s a lot nicer to be in the front rows. This can definitely help stay cleaner in the first phase of the race, when you are not involved in the chaos. I’d love to get some points tomorrow".
That Fernando Alonso is not a fan of the Sprint Race format is common knowledge. Well, the Spanish driver misses no opportunity to reiterate his opinion even on this occasion, in Miami, after he failed to qualify beyond eighth position with his Aston Martin:
"The Sprint Race means nothing, especially because we can't fight or anything like that. They give us penalties for anything we do. So this will be a fun day, but not for us. For us, it won't be very interesting. The Sprint race is useless; there are few points at stake. They don't even let us battle, because they penalise us, so it will be a boring day to watch from the outside, because we'll be in a train of cars. But we'll gather useful information for the race".
Simone Berra, Pirelli Chief Engineer, at the end of this first day of testing expresses his opinion on the behavior of the tyres on the Miami street circuit:
"The Friday of a Sprint weekend is really busy and it was even more so here in Miami, where the very hot conditions, with track temperature exceeding 55 °C, made life tough for the drivers, the cars and the tyres. Very predictably, marked track evolution was a feature of the start of the day, with lap times coming down very quickly. This also affected the long runs because, generally, the times improved despite the thermal degradation being quite significant. From what we could see looking at the sets that had done the most laps, there were no signs of graining. Sprint Qualifying proved to be rather unusual. While the track continued to evolve significantly for the first half, as from the end of SQ2, it was clear the times were not coming down or were even getting slower. This phenomenon became even more marked in SQ3 when the usual improvement going from the Medium to Soft was negligible or at least not significant, while usually the step in terms of lap time is usually quite marked. We will have to study the data carefully over the next few hours to try and understand why. As for tomorrow's Sprint Race, clearly the Medium is the most suitable tyre to complete the 19 laps. However, I don't feel able to rule out the Soft completely, as it could provide a significant grip advantage in the first few laps. However, with such a competitive field, maybe those starting further back might try to go this route especially to check its performance with an eye on its potential use in the first part of Sunday's race. It could be a way of making up places off the line, before then managing the situation, perhaps holding position if a train of cars develops".
Despite the recent announcement of his divorce with Red Bull Racing, Adrian Newey is present in Miami. Stopping to talk to journalists, the British engineer expresses his feelings about the Anglo-Austrian team, with which he spent eighteen wonderful years and with which he won numerous Grands Prix and World Championships:
"Those eighteen years have been extraordinary. I started with Red Bull when it was a very young team and have been involved in its growth. I had no idea we would reach this point, but it's been a fantastic journey with them. It's been amazing working with fantastic guys and girls at the factory and with the team at the track. Now, I will try to enjoy life with my family, maybe with a few more trips, but at the moment I have no plans. Everyone is asking about me? Honestly, it's very kind of them to say these nice things about me and I'm flattered, but right now I just want to take a little break, then I'll see what happens".
So he adds:
"Formula 1 consumes a lot, and I've been a part of it for a long time. 2021 was a demanding year due to the intense battle with Mercedes, and towards the end of the season, it became really tough as we also had to focus on researching and developing the RB18, which was somewhat the mother of this generation of cars. At a certain point, I started feeling tired. I certainly like regulation changes, and this represented the biggest change since 1993, so it was a challenge I enjoyed a lot in researching and designing the entire car. The next two cars were evolutions, and the upcoming one will be a third evolution of the first car. It's been a beautiful series of cars, and I was surprised to see how much potential these cars had. When the regulations came out, I wasn't sure. It's been fun".
Red Bull Racing's external consultant, Helmut Marko, admits that Adrian Newey's decision to leave the project came as a surprise to the team:
"Newey's departure was a surprise. But when motivation wanes - and for him, it was a kind of burnout - there's nothing to do but accept it. I fear that after a certain period of rest, he might regain his desire for racing. And then he will be available for another team, not for us. Because of the incredible contributions he made to Red Bull, we found a mutually acceptable solution for the termination of the contract. In any case, psychologically, it's a weakening for us".
Meanwhile, Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, says regarding Adrian Newey's resignation:
"Six months ago, I would have been surprised by his departure. But considering everything that has happened since the beginning of the year and knowing Adrian and his integrity quite well, I'm not surprised he decided to change. The things happening are a bit destabilising, and probably Adrian's is the first domino to fall. And I don't think it will be the last, given the résumés circulating. We've recorded an increase in applications from that team. I believe Newey is the most successful designer of all time, and thus, beyond the technical contribution, people want to work alongside him. His contribution will be missed both in terms of technical expertise and the leadership and enthusiasm he brings to those working with him".
Frédéric Vasseur, Team Principal Scuderia Ferrari HP, speaking about Adrian Newey, says:
"I focus on my guys and haven't paid attention to McLaren, but it's a bit like what happened last weekend, with positions changing drastically from one session to another, but this time it's also a matter of tenths. I believe Norris made a mistake, but it only takes one or two tenths to go from first or second position to fourth or fifth. I think Charles improved throughout the session because he didn't do the free practice this morning, and overall it was a good session for us. We'll bring Hamilton to Ferrari, but I don't want to comment on the other story about Newey; we need to focus on what we're doing. There's a big battle on track, and what matters is what will happen in Miami. I don't want to comment or speculate about it; Newey will leave Red Bull, and we will focus on ourselves".
Looking ahead to the upcoming sessions, the French manager remains cautious:
"It's very difficult to have a clear picture of the Sprint because we didn't do a long run simulation with mediums or softs; we prepared more for Sunday's long run. We should take the Sprint race as good preparation for Sunday's race, but I'm happy with the test we did today. We didn't expect the front row from Charles, and Carlos was matching Charles' time until the last corner. This means we're in good shape with the softs, and we'll see tomorrow on a longer stint. I believe we'll have more aerodynamic load compared to others moving forward, but we'll see. Charles was surprised today in the first corners with the softs because he hadn't driven this morning, so we're talking about hundredths of a second, not tenths. Overall, I think the session went well for us; now let's focus on tomorrow to make a good start and then see how the situation with tyre degradation will be".
On Saturday, May 4th, 2024, just before the start of the Sprint Race, the suspension setup on Alexander Albon's car was modified under parc fermé conditions without approval from the FIA technical delegate. As a result, the Thai driver from Williams, who qualified in 20th position, was forced to start from the pit lane. In the pit lane, there was contact between Esteban Ocon and Charles Leclerc after they were sent out for reconnaissance laps before lining up on the starting grid. French Alpine driver Ocon received a ten-second penalty and a point on his super license. Tsunoda and Sargeant were the only drivers starting on Soft tyres, while the others opted for Mediums. Verstappen successfully resisted Charles Leclerc's attack at the start, while Ricciardo overtook Perez. The two Haas drivers also had a strong start. Towards the back, there was a collision involving the two Aston Martins of Alonso and Stroll, as well as Norris and Hamilton. Stroll and Norris were forced to retire from the Sprint Race, while Alonso attempted to return to the pits due to a tyre puncture. Meanwhile, the race director deployed the Safety Car. At the end of the neutralisation period, Max Verstappen managed to immediately build a gap against Leclerc, preventing the Monegasque driver from using DRS. It was only on the fifth lap that Sergio Perez passed Daniel Ricciardo, though unable to pull away from the Australian Racing Bulls driver, who himself used DRS to fend off Carlos Sainz Jr.'s attacks. Further back, Lewis Hamilton attempted to pass Kevin Magnussen without success. The Danish driver cut through turn 15 to defend against the Mercedes driver. The battle continued in subsequent laps: on lap 11, Hamilton seemed poised to pass Magnussen but was again repelled successfully. Shortly thereafter, the race director penalised Magnussen ten seconds for cutting the chicane.
Hamilton struggled once more to pass Magnussen on track and was himself investigated for exceeding the pit lane speed limit. While Leclerc seemed to capitalise on Verstappen's tyre issues to close the gap, Piastri closed in on Sainz Jr., who was not fast enough to pass Ricciardo. On lap 14, Magnussen defended again, allowing Tsunoda to overtake both drivers. Shortly after, Hamilton managed to pass Magnussen. Due to this incident, Magnussen's penalty was increased by another ten seconds. On the final lap, Tsunoda yielded position to Hamilton. Max Verstappen claimed his ninth career Sprint Race victory. The Dutch Red Bull Racing driver extended his record for the most wins by a single driver in the sprint format. For Verstappen, it marked his fourth consecutive Sprint Race win and sixth in the last seven races. A few hours later, just before the start of qualifying for the Miami Grand Prix grid, Pierre Gasly's car had its third gearbox and second transmission installed. However, the French Alpine driver will not incur any penalties as these new components fall within the allowable limit set by the technical regulations. As the Q1 session began with the green light from the stewards, all drivers except Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas immediately took to the track. Nico Hülkenberg set the initial benchmark time of the session. Shortly after, Lewis Hamilton improved upon Hülkenberg's time, followed by his Mercedes teammate George Russell. Daniel Ricciardo then placed himself between the two Mercedes drivers. Fernando Alonso managed to set a better time than Ricciardo before being surpassed by Carlos Sainz Jr., who recorded a time of 1'28"159. Charles Leclerc secured the second position, just 0.024 seconds behind his teammate. The McLaren drivers initially clocked sixth (Lando Norris) and then fourth (Oscar Piastri) fastest times.
Later, Sergio Perez climbed to third position. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen, after exiting the pits, complained over the radio about a clutch noise, but his race engineer reassured him that everything was functioning normally. Despite a slower first sector than Sainz Jr., the three-time World Champion finished the lap with a time of 1'28"023, thanks to the best second sector. Meanwhile, Bottas climbs to fifth position. However, shortly after, Nico Hülkenberg and Lance Stroll managed to surpass the Stake F1 Team Finnish driver. Later, Lewis Hamilton moved up to third place after setting the best performance in the first section of the track, while Esteban Ocon finished his lap and climbed to seventh position. In the meantime, Carlos Sainz Jr. set the best time, while Charles Leclerc rose to third place, before being overtaken by Oscar Piastri. Norris is just 0.080s behind Sainz Jr., 0.006s better than Verstappen, and 0.015s ahead of Piastri. However, Perez then set the new time to beat, finishing a lap in 1'27"772. Sargeant complains about being slowed down by Tsunoda: the American Williams driver was eliminated by just 0.002s before the final attempt. Only 0.8s separate the eighth driver in the standings from the last. Shortly after, Charles Leclerc improved his time but remained in sixth position, while Lando Norris climbed to second place and Max Verstappen set the best time. Sargeant moved up to twelfth place, while Albon was eighth; moments later, Ocon moved up to eighth place, Tsunoda set the ninth best time, and Ricciardo improved but did not go beyond the eighteenth time. Russell climbed to seventh position, and Gasly moved up to fifth place. Thus, Bottas, Sargeant, Ricciardo, Magnussen, and Zhou were eliminated. At the beginning of Q2, Yuki Tsunoda finished his first lap in 1'28"223, ahead of Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll. Max Verstappen managed to lap faster than the Japanese Racing Bulls driver but was soon beaten by both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who lapped in 1'27"721. Lewis Hamilton was sixth before George Russell overtook him in the standings. Shortly after, Charles Leclerc climbed to first position, while Carlos Sainz Jr. was fourth, 0.4s behind. Alexander Albon made a driving error at the hairpin at the end of the straight. After the first attempts, the two Red Bull Racing drivers were behind in the standings, although with used tyres. All fifteen drivers are still within just over a second of each other.
The changing wind conditions add an extra element of uncertainty for the drivers. Fernando Alonso improved but was only thirteenth, while Lance Stroll moved up to ninth place. Shortly after, Lewis Hamilton set the second-best time, while Carlos Sainz Jr. moved up to sixth place and George Russell to eighth. Subsequently, Verstappen climbed to second position, while Norris was sixth. Failing to advance to the decisive phase are Stroll, Gasly, Ocon, Albon, and Alonso. In the final phase, Norris, not having any new Soft tyres left, had to go out on Medium tyres. Moments later, Hülkenberg set a time of 1'29"104, while Hamilton lapped in 1'28"654 and Russell in 1'28"067. The two Red Bull Racing drivers also managed to improve, with Perez lapping in 1'27"754 and Verstappen in 1'27"241. Norris, despite being on Medium tyres, climbed to third place. Russell moved up to second position before Leclerc managed to set the third-best time. Meanwhile, Sainz Jr. seemed to have slowed down Hülkenberg, but race direction did not open an investigation into the Spanish driver's behaviour. In his final attempt, Verstappen set the best time in the first sector: the two Scuderia Ferrari drivers were slightly behind, with Leclerc making a small driving error. Verstappen was slower in the second sector compared to his first attempt, but neither of the two drivers from the Maranello team was able to improve their times. The Dutch driver from Red Bull Racing did not improve at the end of the lap, nor did Leclerc or Sainz Jr., Norris could not do better than fifth, a feat Hamilton achieved on Medium tyres. Max Verstappen secured his 38th career pole position, his sixth and consecutive of the season, following his pole position start in the Sprint Qualifying. For Verstappen, this is his seventh consecutive overall pole position, with the streak starting at the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the last race of the previous championship. The Dutchman achieved seven consecutive pole positions for the first time in his career, marking the second such streak in the history of the category, recorded four times, the last in 2015 by Lewis Hamilton, just one short of Ayrton Senna's record. Perhaps Red Bull Racing's external consultant Helmut Marko is right in saying that when the Anglo-Austrian car cannot guarantee maximum performance, it is the Max factor that wins pole position:
"The key thing was not to overload the tyres in the first sector, so there would still be grip left for the final part of the lap. But looking at the lap times and hearing complaints from all the drivers, the conditions were far from ideal for anyone".
So he adds:
"Max found the right compromise, while Mercedes even switched to the medium tyres, which shows their desperation. But it also demonstrates that nobody had full control. Fortunately, Verstappen managed the difficult conditions well. It's challenging to strike the right balance between precision and pushing hard. A bit of luck is also needed because one slip-up can ruin everything. Perez wasn't able to perform as well as Max".
For his part, Max Verstappen does not hide at all that on this circuit his car cannot adapt to the best, and that therefore what has been done so far amounts to a real miracle, between the pole position in Sprint Qualifying, the victory of the Sprint Race and the pole position for the Miami Grand Prix:
"The car felt better after the changes that we made, but we have found that there were quite a few combining factors that make it very tricky to drive around this track. It’s been difficult over the weekend with the tyres, as they have quite low grip, overheat quickly and we have also struggled with the balance of the car. It has just been quite unpredictable and everyone has found that it has been difficult to put a lap in. Despite this, ultimately, the most important thing is that we put it on pole and that makes it seven poles in a row, which is something to be proud of. We have the changes in place to make it more of a straightforward race tomorrow and it was good to get the win in the sprint race earlier today, too. Once the tyres stabilise in the race, when they’re hot, it will feel a bit more normal to drive. The strategy will be a bit simpler tomorrow, so hopefully that will also bring my tyre degradation down. We will see what the race brings".
The Max factor is accentuated by the fact that Sergio Perez failed to qualify beyond fourth place. In fact, the Mexican driver admits that he made a driving mistake, which took away his chances of starting from the front row of the grid:
"It was a very tricky session, it was all too much with the grip, too hot and too on the limit. We didn’t maximise the potential. I think we could have had a shot at pole, but I made a mistake on my final lap at turn eight, which probably lost me the front row. Unfortunately, I’m on the wrong side of the tenth today, but we go again tomorrow. We’ll analyse our session because we were fast and we had more than we showed. Other than that, I think everyone had the same struggles today, some laps I was struggling to match myself from Q1. It will be a very demanding race and quite a challenge in the heat, but the pace is there and anything can happen. Hopefully the changes we made to the car today from the sprint will translate into race pace".
All is going well for Charles Leclerc, second at the end of the Sprint Race and second on the grid ahead of the Miami Grand Prix. The Monegasque driver makes no secret of his ambition to win the U.S. race:
"I was happy with the car, we didn't change much since this morning, just did a bit of fine tuning, but overall we are in a good place. It was tricky to put together the lap and not many of us improved on that last timed lap in Q3, so P2 on the grid is not a bad result and we will push to fight for the win tomorrow. In the Sprint race I had quite a good start and then was on the inside for turn 1, but I didn't want to take too many risks because of qualifying coming up later in the day. Both Max and I braked late and eventually he kept his position but it was a good test and I’m looking forward to tomorrow".
In contrast, Carlos Sainz Jr. is laconic in his comments, although he is pleased with the work done so far:
"Overall we cannot be too disappointed with the result today. This track is always very tricky, slippery in some sectors and with the tyres on the verge of overheating. We are in a good position to fight with the Red Bulls and we’ll do everything we can to make the most of it in the race. Looking forward to tomorrow".
Frédéric Vasseur, Team Principal Scuderia Ferrari HP, draws a summary of the work done so far, and hopes to improve the results on Sunday:
"Overall, it’s a good result, starting P2 and P3 with Red Bull P1 and P4. However, there’s a slight feeling of frustration as we had hoped to get a better result, but it was clear that everyone was finding it difficult to put a lap together in this session on the Softs. Everyone was right on the edge and if you pushed too hard it was easy to go over the limit. Today, as was already the case yesterday, our preparation for the flying laps went well. For tomorrow, let’s wait and see: it looks like our race pace is a bit slower than Max’s (Verstappen) so the most important thing will be to get a good first lap and make use of the DRS that is very strong at this track. After that, a lot will depend on tyre degradation on which we have collected some data from today’s Sprint Race. We brought home 12 points so it was not that bad, but the real points will be given out tomorrow and we’ll try our best".
After getting hit at the start, the McLaren team did its best to give Lando Norris a competitive car back. And the British driver thanked his team by taking a valuable fifth position in qualifying:
"I think it's been a reasonable Qualifying. I probably couldn't have asked for a lot more. The team did a great job to get the car back together after the Sprint, first of all, so thank you to them after the unfortunate incident we were involved in this morning. Otherwise, P5 and P6 is good for us as a team. I think that's where we deserve to be and that's all we had in the car today, so we maximised it and we'll try to get a good amount of points tomorrow".
Following the British McLaren driver is his teammate, Oscar Piastri, who qualified in sixth position:
"I'm pretty happy with that. It felt like it was a good Qualifying session, and the car was consistent the whole way through. I don't think there was too much more in it to be able to push us any further forward, so I am pleased. The team have done a good job so let's see what we can do tomorrow".
Andrea Stella, Team Principal McLaren, does not regret the qualifying result. Between cars to be repaired and an extremely slippery track, the team collected the maximum result possible. But the forecast for Sunday is better, especially when thinking back to the pace the two McLaren drivers showed during free practice:
"Qualifying was intense today. Like most sessions in Miami, it was made difficult by a very hot track temperature and tyres behaving in a way that made it difficult to exploit the grip available. We tried a few different compounds but ultimately the result is largely according to competitive order. We had hoped for a little more, after a strong performance yesterday, but there is potential for a strong race from fifth and sixth on the grid. The pace Oscar displayed in the Sprint gives us encouragement for tomorrow. I want to take this opportunity to praise the incredible work in the garage to prepare Lando's car after the damage it suffered at the start of the Sprint. There were moments where it looked like he wouldn't be able to take part this afternoon, but the work done by the mechanics, with great support from the factory, was excellent and has put us in a strong position for tomorrow's race".
The McLaren Team Principal also expressed his views on Kevin Magnussen's behaviour during the Sprint Race:
"For me, this case is relatively straightforward because we have a case of intentional behaviour detrimental to another driver, which occurred throughout the race and has been repeated throughout the season. How can sanctions be cumulative? Perhaps it's necessary to spend a weekend at home with the family to reflect on one's sportsmanship and then come back. If we see that you become honest, fair, and sportsmanlike towards your fellow competitors, then you can keep your spot on the grid. It's absolutely unacceptable. The evaluation criteria needs to be adjusted; intentionally damaging the race of your opponents makes no sense from a sportsmanship perspective. This issue should be addressed immediately because if you're outside the points and receive a penalty at the end of your race, whether it's 20 seconds or anything else, it makes no difference. But for the competitors you've damaged, you've deliberately, repeatedly put them out of the race. It's absolutely unacceptable. I expect the FIA to present a reasonable proposal for consideration by the Sporting Advisory Committee, and hopefully, this will happen soon through rules or guidelines that stewards can apply".
At the moment, the Mercedes team, the fourth team in the World Championship, can only aspire to get the fourth row of the grid. And so it did in Miami, with George Russell taking seventh place:
"We were struggling throughout the whole Qualifying to get the tyres into the right place. They work within a very small window, and we saw with Lewis in Q2 that, if we were able to get them in a better place, we had good speed. This is the same story for everyone though. We have to be realistic and, unless we get the perfect lap, P7 and P8 is about where our car is at currently. We know we have work to do and hopefully tomorrow will be better. In the Sprint earlier in the day, I made a good start but got caught on the outside and lost a few positions. After that, I was stuck in a DRS train, so it was quite a boring race. Hopefully we will have a better Grand Prix on Sunday and move forward".
Lewis Hamilton, eighth on the grid, pauses to talk about the fight he had with Kevin Magnussen during the Sprint Race, and the difficulties he faced during qualifying:
"Overall, it's been a much more positive day than yesterday. That said, these tyres are so sensitive and trying to get them to work consistently lap-to-lap is a challenge. The track temperature and grip was similar throughout Qualifying but we still struggled to deliver the maximum potential on each lap. We had that glimpse of what was possible at the end of Q2, but we couldn't deliver it in Q3. It's an area we are focused on improving. I gave it everything in the Sprint; it was a tough battle out there. Contact is never intentional at the first corner, and I went for a gap. It closed quickly though and several of us connected. After that, I was fighting hard to get past the Haas of Magnussen, and I enjoyed the racing. The penalty was unfortunate, and it was a shame that it cost us that final point".
Toto Wolff, Team Principal and CEO Mercedes, adds:
"We have seen once again how difficult it is to get the tyres in the right window. Of course we don't blame the tyres for that, and we need to look at ourselves and our car to understand how we can get the tyres more consistently into the correct operating window. We were able to get it right at the end of Q2 and Lewis' was P3, with just 0.15s off P1. Unfortunately, we couldn't replicate that for Q3. In the Sprint, cars that were quick on the straight but not necessarily through the corners were able to hold position. We had more pace but couldn't show it. Therefore, we made some changes after the Sprint that will hopefully help us in the race tomorrow. We are starting slightly further forward than we were this morning so let's see what we can do".
So Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director Mercedes, concludes the talk about the difficulties the Mercedes drivers faced during qualifying. In particular, the engineer dwells on the difficulty of finding the right window of use of Pirelli tyres, which are particularly sensitive this year:
"The Sprint was disappointing, but we were realistic in our expectations given our grid positions. George lost out because of the first corner incident and couldn't break through the DRS train. Lewis fared better off the line but then spent most of the race battling to get past the Haas of Magnussen. We knew we had a high downforce set-up and that would have been OK if we'd qualified further forward. Unfortunately, when you are racing in the middle of the pack, it isn't ideal. Going into Qualifying, we modified the set-up slightly and changed our wing level. The car was improved but it was still difficult to land the tyres in the right window. We don't seem to be the only team struggling with that but when we got it right, the pace was strong. That said, we are well aware that we have a lot of work to do in order to improve the car. If we can do so, that should help us deliver that stronger pace more consistently".
Fernando Alonso does not seem particularly happy with the outcome of the Sprint Race and qualifying for the Miami Grand Prix. In fact, on the first occasion he failed to take full advantage of the starting position, getting involved in an accident, and on the second occasion the Aston Martin driver failed to set a time better than 15th:
"It was a disappointing day for us. Firstly, there was the incident into Turn 1 at the start of the Sprint and then we had a difficult Qualifying session for tomorrow's race. We struggled in Q1 and Q2 and finished in P15 in both sessions. I didn't seem to have much pace and we were just outside of that group fighting for the top ten this time around. We made some set-up changes from the Sprint race to now and it seems these changes didn't work. I think it will be a challenging race tomorrow, but we'll analyse our performance tonight and try to recover some points".
Mario Isola, Pirelli Motorsport Director, at the end of this second day, pauses to talk about the strategies the teams can choose for the race:
"So far, this weekend has provided plenty of food for thought when it comes to tyre behaviour. Looking at the predictions and simulations going into this event, based on Pirelli data combined with that provided by the teams, we have now had indications that will lead us to delve deeper into the analysis of the data acquired so far. We need to understand why the difference in performance between the Medium and Soft was so small and why qualifying times were slower than last year by about four tenths and by an even more significant gap of almost a second compared to our simulation. We will above all look at how the Soft behaved on the track surface which, from data gathered on Wednesday and Thursday had significantly different levels of abrasiveness compared to 2023. As for strategy, there is little doubt that a one-stop is clearly the quickest option. But it's a different matter when it comes to the compounds and the order in which they will be used. While the drivers found the C4 harder to read over a flying lap, in today's Sprint Race it demonstrated that it cannot be ruled out for tomorrow afternoon's Grand Prix. The C2 will definitely be the outright favourite, but all combinations of it with the C3 and C4 are viable on paper".
In conclusion, Daniel Ricciardo, is penalised with the loss of three positions on the Miami Grand Prix grid for overtaking Haas' German driver, Nico Hülkenberg, under the Safety Car regime in the previous Chinese Grand Prix. Ricciardo, along with the deduction of two points on his superlicense, was initially penalised ten seconds on the race time, but the penalty changed as the Australian was withdrawn from the race and unable to serve the penalty.
On Sunday, May 5th, 2024, at the start of the Miami Grand Prix, Max Verstappen maintained the lead while Charles Leclerc was passed by his teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. Meanwhile, Sergio Perez attempted to overtake both Ferrari drivers but went wide, forcing Sainz Jr. to widen his line, allowing Leclerc to regain second place. Behind Leclerc, Oscar Piastri moved up into third position. By lap 4, the Australian driver climbed into second place, while Sainz Jr., closing in on Leclerc, requested permission from Ferrari engineers to pass his teammate. In the early laps, Nico Hülkenberg managed to keep both Mercedes drivers behind him, but eventually Lewis Hamilton passed him on lap 10 after a near collision. After ten laps, Max Verstappen held a 2.7-second lead over Oscar Piastri, 3.3 seconds over Charles Leclerc, 4.4 seconds over Carlos Sainz Jr., and 6.2 seconds over Sergio Perez. Later on, Lando Norris closed in on Perez before deciding to pit for Hard tyres on lap 18. Two laps later, Charles Leclerc also pitted for Hard tyres, rejoining in sixth place and swiftly passing Lewis Hamilton. Shortly thereafter, Max Verstappen made a driving mistake, cutting a chicane and hitting a track cone, needing a virtual safety car to be called to remove the cone. Verstappen pitted for Hard tyres and a check-up on his Red Bull Racing car. During this period, Oscar Piastri moved into the lead, followed by Carlos Sainz Jr., Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and Charles Leclerc. On lap 25, George Russell also pitted, rejoining just ahead of Nico Hülkenberg, who was battling Fernando Alonso and eventually was passed by him. Two laps later, Lewis Hamilton pitted, switching from Medium to Hard tyres. Oscar Piastri and Carlos Sainz Jr. pitted on the same lap, lap 28, and on lap 29, an incident between Kevin Magnussen and Logan Sargeant led to the deployment of the Safety Car. Sergio Perez took advantage, making his second pit stop. Lando Norris also pitted, though initially, race control indicated the Safety Car was ahead of Max Verstappen, not Norris. This allowed Norris to take the lead, followed by Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Oscar Piastri, Carlos Sainz Jr., and Sergio Perez. At the restart, Charles Leclerc attempted unsuccessfully to pass Max Verstappen.
Two laps later, Carlos Sainz Jr. attacked Oscar Piastri, with the Australian defending strongly, pushing Sainz Jr. off track, but no penalties were issued. On lap 40, Carlos Sainz Jr. tried again, this time forcing Piastri off track after contact, allowing Sergio Perez and Lewis Hamilton to pass him. Piastri then pitted due to front wing damage, dropping him down the order. Meanwhile, Lando Norris extended his lead over Max Verstappen with his new tyres. The three-time World Champion complained about the handling of his car. On lap 45, Nico Hülkenberg passed Pierre Gasly, and three laps later, Fernando Alonso overtook Esteban Ocon to move up to ninth place. In the final laps, Lewis Hamilton closed in on Sergio Perez but could not pass him. Lando Norris claimed victory in the Miami Grand Prix, securing his first career trophy since debuting in Formula 1 in 2019. The British driver also moved up to fourth place in the drivers' standings at the expense of Carlos Sainz Jr. This is McLaren’s 184th victory in the history of the World Championship and their first at the Miami Grand Prix. It marked McLaren's second win in the last twelve seasons and in the turbo-hybrid era since its inception in 2014, as well as the first win for a Mercedes-powered constructor since the 2022 São Paulo Grand Prix. Lando Norris' joy at the end of the race was uncontrollable: the British driver literally jumped onto his mechanics, then embraced Andrea Stella and Zak Brown. For Lando, a wait spanning several seasons finally came to an end. The only occasion when McLaren's driver had come close to winning a race was at the 2021 Russian Grand Prix, lost due to a wrong decision to stay on track as a downpour soaked the circuit in the final laps. This time, however, it was champagne showered by his friends Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc on the podium that soaked the British driver's overalls:
"I have no words for this victory, in the last ten laps of the race I didn't even know what I was thinking. I was trying to think of something, like 'I'm happy, I'm excited.' Many things were going through my mind, but now I'm smiling. I was smiling even in the helmet, but I told myself not to make mistakes. I worked so hard and today the rewards came. Victory today? It was a daring thought, but already at the end of the first stint I realised I had the fastest pace out of everyone. I could see Max on the opposite straight and just seeing him seemed like a good sign. Surely I had a bit of luck, I recognise and accept it, but sometimes it also depends on strategy. You hope for an opportunity and in the last week we did a great job managing the tyres to seize chances like today's".
The British McLaren driver adds:
"We kept pushing and the pace was great throughout the race. Seeing everyone happy for me is beautiful. It's incredible when you do the in-lap and see everyone cheering, smiling, and applauding you. It's really special, I can't describe the feeling well because I think there are few things in the world that can give you these emotions. I am grateful to all the people who supported me, who cheered for me, and who helped me every day. This victory is for them. But it's also nice to prove wrong to all those people who didn't have faith in me. I'm happy about that too. I've never thrown away a career victory, maybe I've thrown away poles, second places, or podiums, but never a victory. In Sochi in 2021, it wasn't perfect from me and it wasn't perfect from the team. We made mistakes together. In Abu Dhabi a year ago, maybe I could have won the Sprint as Oscar did, but not the Grand Prix, because Verstappen finished with a 5-6 second gap over Oscar. Even two weeks ago in China, the refrain started again that I make mistakes under pressure, that I can't win. I knew my moment would come, this year I've improved in many ways, it was just a matter of time. I'm happy for my grandma, she won’t be here for long as she's not very well and I had told her before Miami that I would soon win a race. If I think about all those who wrote to me on social media Lando NoWins, the smile on my face widens even more, I really thank them. It's been a while since I managed a restart from the lead of the race, I was rusty, but after the first corner I managed to extend my lead and there were no problems. I even had time to rehearse the lines and phrases with which I would celebrate the victory, but when I crossed the finish line it felt like my throat dried up".
Clearly, Oscar Piastri is well pleased with the result achieved in Miami by his teammate, and the McLaren team:
"A great day for the team, but a disappointing afternoon on my side. I feel like we did a lot of things right in the first half of the race but a few things didn't go our way in the second half. The car felt the best it's been all year, so I don't think my result should take away from the performance by the rest of the team. Well done to Lando and everyone at McLaren. The race was won on merit today and it's really promising for what's to come".
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown is beside himself with joy. For him, this is his second success, following the one with Daniel Ricciardo at Monza in 2021:
"I am very proud of Lando and the entire team. We have been waiting for this victory for a long time. Lando deserved many wins already, and now we have finally given him a car capable of winning thanks to the fantastic work of all the men and women at McLaren who developed a great car. Achieving this in this country is also really special. We need to keep our feet on the ground, but we have been on the same pace as Ferrari in the last couple of races and were a bit faster here as we were last weekend. Red Bull was not too far away, but today they were behind us. It's a big step forward for us and we hope to win again this year".
The CEO also expressed joy for Team Principal, Andrea Stella:
"Andrea is fantastic, we would not have won this race without his leadership. He has been doing a fantastic job from day one. Considering the material he had last year, with the ninth or tenth car on the grid, or perhaps the worst, and now being second in the second half of the year - and now here the best - has been truly incredible, and I cannot praise him enough. He is the leader, and it is thanks to his drive that the team has given its best, and we hope to win much more".
He then talks about Oscar Piastri:
"Piastri drove exceptionally well, but unfortunately, the incident with Sainz ruined his race. He wasn't far from Verstappen, but unfortunately, the safety car didn't work in his favour and he had to fight through. He suffered damage to the wing; it's encouraging because Oscar will have all the updates at Imola and we will have two cars with the complete package. I'm sure Lando would have won even without the safety car, because he had a great pace and he proved it. Certainly, his track position after the safety car helped, but once the race resumed, he pulled away comfortably, so he had the fastest pace of all".
Andrea Stella, McLaren Team Principal, joins the team's celebration for Lando Norris' first win, and his first since he has been at the helm of the team:
"Victory today in Miami is meaningful for many reasons. First of all, for Lando and his first F1 win. I am happy from the bottom of my heart for him. We've often said as soon as we give him winning material, he's going to win. He did it in style. Beyond that, it's a very important day for the team. We've been on a journey for some time, after an incredible turnaround last year. We've kept momentum, and today is another very important step and hopefully the starting point for greater success. So, I'm very happy for all the people at McLaren, I hope they enjoy this moment because I know how much work has gone into delivering these upgrades. It's not just design or just manufacturing, it's an effort across every department at the factory and from the trackside team. This goes beyond just the people at McLaren: it goes to our power unit partners at HPP and our technical and commercial partners who are vital to this success. It's teamwork in the widest possible sense. The car was very good this weekend - and it's worth noting Oscar was in a very strong position to be on the podium as well, as he drove a very good race. Lastly, my final word is for Gil de Ferran, to whom this victory is dedicated to by the whole team. Gil, this is for you".
In the end, as expected, Max Verstappen failed to capitalise on pole position and win the Miami Grand Prix. No doubt, the Safety Car affected the final result, but the Dutch driver admits that his car did not have the best pace in the race today:
"Ultimately today we were not quick enough. The Safety Car did not help us, but we still had plenty of opportunities to win the race and unfortunately we lacked pace. When we took the car back to the garage, we also found that the floor was damaged and had a hole in it, which could have been picked up from hitting the cone. We also struggled with the tyres and balance of the car all weekend and I never felt too comfortable in the car. In the high speed I was understeering and we also struggled a lot with the grip of the tyres. It wasn’t our best weekend and it really shows that everything needs to work well to win races and it is not as easy as people might think. However, I’m happy for Lando. Your first win is always emotional and he drove a great race: it was a long time coming and he deserved it today".
And Sergio Perez also had no choice but to finish the race in fourth place:
"Overall it was quite a tricky race, especially at the start, when I went down the inside and ended up narrowly avoiding Max. There was no grip at all, which we hadn’t expected and I ended up losing a place to Piastri and damaged my tyres for the first stint. Basically, everything was running a little too hot and I was struggling to get through the people ahead, as we lacked pace today. We were struggling on mediums throughout the race. We came back a little bit towards the end, but I couldn’t get into the rhythm until late in the race. We knew McLaren were very, very strong this weekend and we just didn’t have their pace today at the front. We made some changes overnight that, in hindsight, were not in the right direction, so we’ll need to debrief from this weekend to come back for Imola".
Christian Horner, Team Principal and CEO Red Bull Racing, congratulates Lando Norris, who scored his first career victory, then points out that Max Verstappen was slowed by a problem with the floor, which was damaged after the Dutch driver flew over the curb:
"First of all, congratulations to McLaren and Lando. They had a great race and it's a well-deserved victory. Max was a bit unlucky to sustain damage to the floor when he hit the curb around lap 21; he did well to hold onto his position, but it was tough for him to recover from there. Checo also struggled with tyre issues, making some progress towards the end but finding the pace was challenging. We were also a bit unlucky with the safety car today, but that's racing. We still managed to score the most points in both the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships, so we can take those positives back to Europe. Overall, it was still a positive weekend".
Although initial ambitions were different, Charles Leclerc failed to win the Miami Grand Prix, and in fact finished the race in third place:
"A tough race today. The first lap was a close call and thankfully we got away without any damage there. We held second place, focusing on tyre management. We stopped rather early, which unfortunately cost us after a Virtual Safety Car and Safety Car were deployed, giving others the opportunity to pit. We struggled on older tyres, and had to fight to keep the pace. We have our upgrades coming shortly, so hopefully we can join the fight for victories soon. Congratulations to Lando (Norris) for his first victory, I hope he enjoys it fully".
Carlos Sainz Jr. is a great friend of Lando Norris, so he misses no opportunity to congratulate the British McLaren driver, before talking about his race, which saw him finish in fifth place, behind Sergio Perez, after an intense fight with Oscar Piastri:
"Congratulations to Lando, I'm truly happy for him! He deserved a win for a long time and today was his day. Looking at my race I would say the opposite, it wasn’t my day. The start was very good but I went from P2 at turn 1 to P4 after having to avoid Perez. From there I was in a DRS train for some laps and decided to open the gap, take care of the tyres and extend my first stint to try something different. Unfortunately, the Safety Car came out the lap after I pitted and we lost a chance to lead the race. It is what it is. However, I'm quite happy with my race because the pace was very strong and at the end of the day we scored good points for the team. On to the next one".
Frédéric Vasseur, Team Principal Scuderia Ferrari HP, tried to see the bright side at the end of the Miami Grand Prix. Namely, the cars produced in Maranello had the same pace as the Red Bull Racing cars. Not bad, given the results at the beginning of the year. Now, however, the French manager hopes to see a performance upgrade starting with the next Grand Prix, as upgrades to the cars are planned:
"First of all I want to congratulate Lando and McLaren because it’s a first win for a driver who is very popular in the paddock and we are happy for him. It was also a good result for Formula 1 as a whole. From our side we had a strong race and we were able to stay with Max all race long. We were a bit unlucky with the Safety Car with Carlos but it is what it is and we have to stick with the positives, especially the fact that the pace was there all weekend. Charles had a pretty straightforward race. However, for Carlos the start was not ideal because of Perez’s mistake at turn 1. Today track position was very important, as it was very difficult to overtake and he lost two places through the first two corners. However he had very good pace and was able to come back at the end. The next Grand Prix is in Imola, which has been the scene of some really exciting racing in recent years. Before then everyone in Maranello will be working hard to ensure we get a better result than we did today".
Lewis Hamilton finished his race in sixth position after being the author of several battles during the Miami Grand Prix. The British driver is satisfied, and is already looking ahead to the next race:
"I am so happy for Lando and McLaren. They have both been doing a great job and they deserve today's victory. It's great to see McLaren so competitive. I also know how special it is to get your first Grand Prix victory so a big well done to Lando. In my race today, I had some enjoyable battles out there. I was giving it everything I had to make progress and made a couple of good overtakes. We were challenging the Red Bull at the end so to be able to race them felt great. Today was probably the best day of racing I've had this year, so we just need to keep pushing. We've got some more small upgrades coming for Imola. Others are developing too but we will keep working hard".
George Russell also joins the line of friends cheering Lando Norris's victory. The two drivers have known each other for many years, and have shared much of the path that brought them to F1:
"A massive well done to Lando and McLaren. He truly deserves it, and truth be told, he probably deserves to have more than one victory already by now. We've been racing each other for a long time; he's put so much hard work in, and I had no doubts that he would win in F1. I'm very happy for him. My race today was difficult. I lost a few positions at the start and then in the final stint, I had no pace on the Hard tyres and was struggling a lot. We will have to assess why that was. Our lack of speed was quite unexpected, whilst Lewis had a strong race so there was definitely speed in the car".
Toto Wolff, Team Principal and CEO Mercedes, is keen to remind us that the victory McLaren achieved was partly dependent on the Mercedes department in charge of Power Unit design and production. Therefore, praise also goes to them:
"Firstly, well done to McLaren and Lando. He has long been overdue his first win and today he drove a very strong race. McLaren have been on a big upward trajectory since last year and that is good for us to see; it shows us what is possible. Congratulations too to everyone involved in designing, manufacturing, and operating the Mercedes Power Unit at High Performance Powertrains in Brixworth. The good news in our race today was that on the Medium tyre we showed that we had good speed. Lewis was faster than Perez in the Red Bull ahead on the same compound but wasn't quite able to make the overtake. George struggled a little more on the Hard tyre but overall it was encouraging to see the improvements we made from Friday and that we had solid pace compared to others".
Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director Mercedes, as always pauses to talk about what worked and what, on the other hand, did not work on the Anglo-German cars. The result obtained by McLaren today undoubtedly spurs him on to believe that they can improve, and that they can soon reach the top of the standings:
"Firstly, well done to Lando and McLaren. It was a very impressive performance from the team and driver today. They have done a great job and are fully deserving of victory. We know we've got work to do to catch them, but it offers encouragement to see how much of an improvement they have delivered in the space of 12 months. Our race today was relatively straightforward. We knew it was going to be hard to move forward; the car hasn't been handling well around this track and we've struggled in the slower corners particularly. Lewis had a tough stint on the Hard but after the restart was much happier with the car on the Medium compound. Unfortunately we didn't quite have the straight-line speed to get past Perez, but it was good to be able to race him at the end. It was a frustrating afternoon for George meanwhile. He was sliding around and struggling to get the tyres to bite. We'll look into that over the next few days. Our focus is of course on making the car faster. We have some good developments in the pipeline and will push hard to get them to the car as soon as we can".
Despite starting in 15th position, Fernando Alonso managed to finish the race in ninth. The Spanish driver never misses an opportunity to show his infinite talent:
"After a difficult day yesterday, it was good to come away from this weekend with some points for the team. We got a bit lucky with the timing of the Virtual Safety Car and then the full Safety Car leveling the field. We then took this opportunity to fit the Medium tyres. This changed our strategy a little bit and allowed us to have some good battles out there. I enjoyed the racing and it seems we showed a little more performance in the race than we did in Qualifying. We do have some work to do to improve our performance in the next couple of races. I am happy for Lando. It's always special to secure your first win".
In conclusion, Mario Isola, Pirelli Motorsport Director, can only end the day by congratulating Lando Norris, who managed to make the most of the Safety Car, to win the Miami Grand Prix:
"First of all, I want to congratulate Lando Norris on his first Formula 1 win. I am sure he will never forget the emotions he felt in the final kilometres and then on the podium. Strangely, despite the surprises thrown up by the Safety Cars, first the virtual and then the real one, it was a very linear race in terms of tyre behaviour: just the one stop and tyres that, whatever the colour of their band, degraded relatively little, partly due to the absence of graining and there was also very little in the way of a performance difference between the cars. That said, we saw that the two compounds most used, the C2 and C3, allowed the drivers to push flat out for almost the entire race, as can be seen from studying the chronology of the lap times, which made for a very interesting race, even if on paper it seemed to be constrained by strategy. Obviously, the VSC and SC ruined the plans on several pit walls, while others were luckier or cleverer, but that's all part of racing. As always, it will be important to analyse carefully all the data acquired over the three days of this Grand Prix, because they will produce indications that could be useful for us in terms of compound selection and when it comes to understanding the interaction between the tyres and the various types of track surface. In fact, that's why Formula 1 is a fascinating sport because every day you can learn something that can lead to progress".
The Miami Grand Prix is a very young event and perhaps not one of the most fascinating. However, this particular Grand Prix goes down in the history of Formula 1, as it finally allowed Lando Norris to win his first career race. This breaks a true curse. The British driver has been very good at giving confidence to the McLaren Racing team, even when the results on track were clearly adverse. Lando Norris managed to stay focused on his goal, and at the first opportunity, he did not miss out on the victory. He believed in this team, and he was right. The pursuit of the fourth world title for Max Verstappen is momentarily slowed down, as at the end of the Miami Grand Prix, he leads the World Drivers' Championship standings with 136 points, against the 103 of his teammate, Sergio Perez. As for the World Constructors' Championship, Red Bull Racing climbs to 239 points, against the 187 of Scuderia Ferrari, which missed a great opportunity to return to winning ways in Miami. Thus, the winning streak of the Anglo-Austrian team is interrupted, but the next Grand Prix, to be held in Italy at Imola, could restore the competitiveness of Max Verstappen's and Sergio Perez's blue cars. Provided that Scuderia Ferrari does not bring some really significant updates to the point of overturning the predictions.