How Verstappen deployed an under-appreciated strong suit to defeat Perez in Miami

By:

Jake Boxall-Legge

May 8, 2023, 8:25 AM

Left out of place on the grid by an error on his first Q3 lap and Charles Leclerc's crash causing a red flag, Max Verstappen had to work rather more for his third win of the 2023 campaign. From ninth on the grid, the Red Bull driver's recovery to a 38th F1 victory was the result of a tyre management masterclass to overcome team-mate Sergio Perez on an alternate strategy

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Mathematically speaking, the odds weren’t quite on Max Verstappen’s side to win the Miami Grand Prix. Of the 1083 world championship events held prior to the Floridian race’s second edition, only four drivers had ever won from ninth place – the most recent being 39 years ago courtesy of Niki Lauda at the 1984 French Grand Prix. Surprisingly, just 0.37% of races had been won from ninth. For comparison, three more races have been won from 14th on the grid.

Thankfully for Red Bull, it appears to have a car that defies all mathematical principles. Verstappen has already converted lowly grid positions into big results so far this year. He turned 15th on the grid in Saudi Arabia, following his driveshaft issue in qualifying, into second as he executed a combative drive towards the front. Taking a win from ninth would hardly be a bridge too far given the colossal advantage held by the RB19 package.

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Jake Boxall-Legge F1 Writer

Jake studied engineering at university, as his original ambition was to design racing cars. He was bad at that, and thus decided to write about them instead with an equally limited skillset. The above article is a demonstration of that. In his spare time, Jake enjoys people, places, and things.