Dutch Red Bull driver Max Verstappen won the Miami Grand Prix, the fifth round of the Formula One World Championship, on Sunday ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in front of 82,000 spectators.
And thirdly, the Ferrari pilot, another Spaniard, Carlos Sainz.
Two drivers have dominated five races this season, with Leclerc winning two and Verstappen three.
The Dutchman, who won the 23rd race of his professional career, closed the gap on Leclerc by 19 points (104 to 89), while the Mexican Sergio Pérez, his Red Bull teammate, was third with 66 points after finishing fourth in the race.
On the other hand, there was a noticeable improvement in the level of the Mercedes car, with British stallion George Russell coming in fifth and his compatriot Hamilton sixth.
Christian Horner, director of Red Bull, congratulated his Dutch rider, saying: “You did a great job.”
Verstappen replied: “Yes, what a race, it was really great, also difficult, but very good.”
“You did a great job and I’m proud of it,” he added.
“I am very happy after winning Miami, it was a tough race from a physical point of view, and we made it exciting until the last laps,” said Verstappen.
The race was held at the Miami International Speedway, an off-street fast track built around parking lots around the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
Verstappen, who started from third, managed to overtake second in turn one before repeating Leclerc’s scenario in the first quarter of the race.
Verstappen won his first world title last season after a hard-fought battle with Britain’s Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), who won the title seven times, equaling Germany’s Michael Schumacher in the record.
The Miami race was the first of two races in the United States this year, apart from the prestigious US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.
Starting next year, the third prize will be included in Uncle Sam’s Country with a night race under the lights of the streets and casinos of Las Vegas.
Rating of the top ten drivers:
1. Max Verstappen (Netherlands/Red Bull) 1.34:24.258 hours
2. Charles Leclerc (Monaco/Ferrari) 3.786 sec.
3. Carlos Sainz (Spain/Ferrari) 8.229 seconds back
4. Sergio Perez (Mexico/Red Bull) 10.638 sec.
5. George Russell (Great Britain/Mercedes) 18.582 sec.
6. Lewis Hamilton (Great Britain/Mercedes) 21.368 sec.
7. Valtteri Bottas (Finland/Alfa Romeo) 25.073 sec.
8. Esteban Ocon (France/Alpine region) 28.386 sec.
9. Fernando Alonso (Spain/Mountaineering) 32.128 sec.
10. Alexander Albon (Thailand/Williams) 32.365 sec.
Here are the top five in the world championships:
1. Charles Leclerc (Monaco) 104 points
2. Max Verstappen (Netherlands) 85
3. Sergio Perez (Mexico) 66
4. George Russell (Great Britain) 59
5. Carlos Saiens (Spain) 53
Manufacturers order:
1. Ferrari 157 points
2. Red Bull 151
3. Mercedes 95
4. McLaren 46
5. Alfa Romeo 31
6. Alpine 28
7. Fatavi Albin 17
8. Haas 15
9. Aston Martin 5
10. Williams 2
