Three races finished, three wins. Max Verstappen maintains its full effectiveness in this 2022, after winning the first Miami GP in history, ahead of charles leclerc Y Carlos Sainz.
The man from Madrid ended his losing streak in this way, after enduring Sergio Pérez in the final stretch, with which he returned to the drawer. Fernando Alonso was the protagonist… to the negative: a hit with Pierre Gasley It cost him a penalty that sent him from 8th in the finish line to 9th in the finish.
Start: bad Sainz, good Alonso
Carlos Sainz gave up the position with Max Verstappen in the first meters, forcing him to go on the attack from the beginning to try to help Charles Leclerc.
It was much better for Fernando Alonsothat with a little touch with Lewis Hamilton included went from 11th to 7th (Lance Stroll, who started in front, was not there because he started from the pitlane). Although he ended up giving in to the seven-time champion, he made it clear that this could be a points race.
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Leclerc’s lead in the race lasted less than 10 laps. He tried to escape, but he left his tires on the way, which ultimately cost him Verstappen to overtake him and go first.
Behind, Alonso’s fight with Gasly for 7th place was cut short in the pits. The Asturian saw how his stop, which was the first of the race, was compromised on the left rear tire so trying to fight with the Frenchman became impossible, at least until the end of the test.
It was not the only problem in the pits: Sainz also cost a few extra seconds for his stop and the advantage he had gained with Pérez in their fight for fourth place was soon undone. Although later it was not a differential fact, since that Red Bull did suffer serious problems.
Alonso wakes up from tedium
The race entered a phase too stable to talk about spectacle. As soon as the hard tires appeared, the pace of all the drivers dropped noticeably and no one dared to go on the attack… until Alonso did.
The Spaniard was too aggressive when trying to win the place from Gasly and when he threw the car at him, since the Frenchman closed him, they touched. The stewards did not hesitate: 5 seconds of the punishment for the Spanish.
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There was no mess. Gasly, who had been ahead, touched lando norris and the McLaren one ended up against the wall. The consequent departure of the safety car caused the race behind the safety car to be neutralized.
This incident caused many drivers to pit for medium or even soft tyres. Pérez was one of those who entered the pits for a second stop, which put in check not only Sainz’s 3rd for the final stretch of the race, but also Leclerc’s 2nd.
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Pérez came to throw the car at Sainz, but the Mexican sneaked in: it was key. With 5 laps to go, that laundry caused the Red Bull tires to have a plane that was devastating for their aspirations.
In the end, Sainz held 3rd and Alonso did 8th, although with the 5 seconds added he finished 9th. Two more points for the Spaniard, which is double what he had when he arrived.
Miami Grand Prix Race Time Table
Photos: Red Bull Racing