Dutch maximum Verstappen (Red Bull) strengthened his lead in the Formula 1 World Championship by taking victory at the Miami Grand Prix in the United States. The race, the fifth of the season, unfolded on a track surrounding the Hard Rock Stadium in the Florida city. In the end, his teammate Sergio Pérez from Mexico and Spaniard Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin completed the podium, with Alonso recording his fourth podium of the season in a tense, sunlit afternoon. The event marked a notable return to form for Verstappen as he added another win to his growing trophy case while the rest of the field chased after him across the street circuits and high-speed sections of the track.
Verstappen, 25, who is chasing a third consecutive title, secured his 38th career victory and his third triumph of the year. He started in ninth position and burst through the field to cross the finish line ahead of Pérez, who claimed his fourth podium appearance of the season, and the brilliant Alonso. The race featured a number of strategic battles and driver duels that kept the crowd on the edge of their seats. Spaniard Carlos Sainz, driving for Ferrari, finished in fifth place behind the British driver George Russell of Mercedes, who showcased solid pace throughout the weekend and climbed the order in the latter stages of the race.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, racing for Mercedes, finished in sixth place just ahead of Sainz’s Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc from Monaco, who emerged with a strong performance after a cautious start. The two French Alpine drivers, Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon, ended the session in eighth and ninth respectively, while Denmark’s Kevin Magnussen secured the last point on offer by finishing tenth as the field concluded a high-intensity sprint through the Florida streets.
Verstappen repeated last year’s Miami victory and also set the fastest lap of the race. He now leads the World Cup standings with 119 points, fourteen ahead of Perez, who sits in second. The championship landscape shows a challenging path ahead for multiple contenders as the season progresses, with Sainz in the mix and other competitors aiming to close the gap in upcoming rounds.
As the season unfolds, teams and drivers alike are weighing the balance between outright speed and reliable consistency. The Miami event delivered a vivid snapshot of the ongoing rivalry at the pinnacle of Formula 1, highlighting Verstappen’s demand for excellence and the persistent challenge from a tightly packed group of rivals vying for every available advantage on a circuit that rewards precision, strategy, and bold overtakes.