It’s been an exciting weekend in sunny South Florida! The first Grand Prix Miami kicked off on Saturday with qualifying rounds followed by the main event on Sunday. Ten Formula 1 teams competed and over 300,000 fans, race enthusiasts, and partygoers joined in on the fun. This is the first of a ten-year contract at the Miami International Autodrome. Talk about good news for the growing fanbase here! Among the celebrities and enthused attendees, the live-action event was all about one thing: speed. Luckily, Miami brought the heat to this iconic racing event.
Preparing for Formula 1 in Miami
For those who don’t know, Formula 1 is relatively new to the United States. However, Miami marks the 11th U.S. track to be built. And actually, it’s the most tracks ever built in a single country. The Miami race track was constructed around the iconic Hard Rock Stadium where fans typically gather for Miami Dolphin games during the NFL season. The 3.3 mile long track included 19 corners and three different DRS zones (drag reduction system). In true South Florida fashion, racers had to prepare for scorching heat conditions and the chance of rain.
Qualifying rounds
The F1 free practice landed Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), George Russell (Mercedes), and Max Verstappen (Red Bull) in the top three spots. For F2, drivers George Russell and Charles Leclerc found themselves in the top three ring again along with Sergio Perez (Red Bull). After the initial introduction to the track, the drivers could ease into the second day with a better understanding of the track, challenges ahead, and a clear rivalry at play.
Who were the biggest competitors?
Every Formula 1 driver brought their A-game to the track this weekend. However, there was a clear rivalry present between Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. Since the Miami track is completely new, every driver was entering this race without precedent. Not to mention, Verstappen (previous Formula 1 world champ) was off to a rocky start this year, finishing only 2 out of the 4 races. Mostly due to mechanical setbacks. With new regulations in effect for Formula 1 chassis restrictions, it seems a number of teams have experienced mechanical issues in 2022 thus far.
So, we know the heat was definitely on. But who finished strong?
Who won formula 1 today?
Max Verstappen secured the winning victory on Sunday. Leclerc finished in second and Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) took the last spot on the podium. To conclude, here’s the main takeaways from Verstappen’s win and this first-ever Formula 1 event from the writers at ESPN:
What did you think of the Miami Grand Prix event? Are you a Formula 1 fan? Share your thoughts down below. We’d love to hear from you!