Track Torque: Imperfect practice doesn’t deter Max in Miami

The Americans, with all their ballyhoo, put on a great show for the inaugural Miami Grand Prix in Florida last weekend. The spectacle, the race track and all dignitaries made it a very festive event. Wish we were there.
Max Verstappen had engine problems in practice, but by race day everything was top notch and the Flying Dutchman was in the groove with his Red Bull Honda! He moved from third on the grid to second spot as he overtook Carlos Sainz in the first corner. The hunt to catch and pass Charles Leclerc in the second Ferrari didn’t take too long before Max was in the lead which he was not to give up for the entire race.
LeClerc drove extremely well in his Prancing Horse and again put a lot of pressure on Verstappen late in the race after the safety car had to come out following Mick Schumacher’s accident. The leading Red Bull stayed in front of the chequered flag to win the race and take the driver of the day award, so that was that for the top three podium positions.
In the fourth spot was Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull followed by the Mercedes team cars, driven with great gusto by George Russell and Lewis Hamilton. The Mercs are getting better at every race but still have improvements to make! I feel sure that the three pointed stars will soon be able to compete at the top again very soon. In 7th position behind his ex teammate was Valtteri Bottas who had a good weekend, having out performed the Mercs for most of the weekend.
In 8th, 9th and 10th places were Esteban Ocon (Alpine Renault), Alexander Albon (Williams Mercedes), and Lance Stroll in his Aston Martin which is also Merc powered.
Fernando Alonso was just out of the points, in 11th place but had performed extremely well for most of the race and qualifying. The old man from Spain still has tremendous skill and determination which should show even better in the next race, in Spain, his home country.
The whole circus, including the cars, will now fly back to Europe where a whole raft of modifications will be out on the cars for the race on the plain in Spain on May 22.