The invincible Max Verstappen is actually beatable, even without the contribution of external events (as happened in Melbourne, when Max had a breakdown and the Ferrari he flew towards the Sainz-Leclerc one-two). Honor and glory to Lando Norris, therefore, for having at least questioned the theorem of the infallibility of the Dutchman and Red Bull. The third Miami GP crowns the English boy who never managed to win: “finally” is the right adverb that accompanies his feat.
Lando Norris: 10
It’s never too late, Maestro Manzi said in Italy in a RAI at the dawn of broadcasts that contributed to fighting illiteracy. In England the 24 year old Lando he made the motto his own to break the absurd situation that caged him: he had become the driver with the most podiums and the most points who has never won a GP, but he was also someone who had not yet been able to achieve success at McLaren after 100 or more races. A negative record among Woking drivers. It is inspired by Valentino Rossi: a good example for indisputable qualities to flourish. Did the safety car help him? Yes, but he deserved the help, making up for the messes of the sprint race and qualifying, among other things.
Andrea Stella and McLaren: 10
First victory as team principal of McLaren for the engineer who followed Raikkonen and Alonso at Ferrari and who incidentally experienced the story of the spy story that overwhelmed the stable now governed. Last year he found the key to overturning a wrong single-seater, now he has ensured that the updated MCL38 (only Norris’s, however, was already completely updated) can be a solid rival of Red Bull.
Miami crowd: 10
Well, it will be too an American this GP which for the third time has landed in the place of worship of Floridabut they were there in the stands over the weekend 275 thousand spectators, new record compared to 270,000 in 2023. Let’s not be difficult: does anyone remember the gaps in Indianapolis or should we remember them?
Adrian Newey: 8
Having announced the farewell at Red Bull, he should have celebrated Verstappen’s victory by going up on the podium together with Max as a sign of gratitude (perhaps not entirely genuine, if it is true that relations with Christian Horner) for what he has done in recent years. Everything postponed, Norris played spoilsport. However, we liked the sober farewell of the great Adrian from the team, according to his style: it is unlikely that in the future “fireworks” will come from him regarding what happened in this last part of his experience in Milton Keynes.
Charles Leclerc: 8
He starts worse than Sainz, then his teammate teases him by prodding the tail of the car for a long time and even suggests to the wall that he should ask him to give way. Charles didn’t care and did well, finding the way to the podium. In his GP too a great overtaking on Hamilton: a message for the future colleague in Maranello.
Max Verstappen: 7
This time he was on the track, the defeat – which is a second place after all… — was not due to uncontrollable events. Winner of the sprint, he imagined a new lavish banquet. Instead in Florida for him there was only bread and salami: already in the first part it was understood that it would not be empty as usual; after the safety car his run-up became impossible. Human, at least for a day. He must have understood what his opponents feel when they chase him with no hope of catching him.
Oscar Piastri: 7
Brilliant for a long time, then ruined both by the safety car and by the clash with Sainz and kicked out of the top ten. But the handle is there and you can see it.
Ferrari: 7.5 (and 8 to the blue)
Given that Miami’s SF-24 was not yet updated, the result of the weekend is positive. But the upgrade is now essential, at least to get back in front of McLaren or be at its level. In Florida the Red was also dyed blue in some parts (and in the uniforms of the drivers and staff), in deference to the historical link between the Cavallino and the US racing world: to us We liked the color mix and the blue was particularly flattering on the tracksuits.
Yuki Tsunoda: 7.5
After the great awakening of Ricciardo in the sprint race (the Kangaroo GP was instead insufficient: rating 5.5) he couldn’t help but react: therefore out the samurai sword and forward towards the points with a Racing Bulls that is improving.
Carlos Sainz: 7
Having escaped Perez’s torpedo at the start, he then ran into a tough duel with Piastri which also cost him the posthumous five-second penalty. No longer fourth, therefore, but fifth. Let’s say that events did not work in his favor.
Lewis Hamilton: 7
He spent the weekend making it slapping with the Haasa sub-highlight show for one Mercedes which dominated and which has not yet found the right path. But the old lion is always there and scratches: He just deserves to drive something better.
Nico Hulkenberg: 6.5
The incoming signing from Audi –— who will take over Sauber –— is working like Gerovital: good to see Nico always on point and combative. It’s a shame, however, that his Haas slowly disappeared turned offcondemning him to just slip out of the points (eleventh).
Esteban Ocon: 6.5
The first point is his — yes, only one — in the World Championship of an Alpine that must give a headache to those who try to tame it. Also Gasley he fights and duels with his teammate, but in the end the Frenchman from Milan is left dry again.
Fernando Alonso: 6
He in turn deserves to have his bottom under him a more performing machine. He does what he can: rather than thinking about this Aston Martin that isn’t growing, it’s better to take a trip to South Beach. Ps: even with little, however, Fernando ridicules the more and more embarrassing Stroll (5), again lost in the rear.
George Russell: 5.5
As bland as a bowl of soup they serve in a hospital. It must be said that Mercedes really doesn’t help her, but George is again beaten by his “grandfather” (Hamilton).
Red Bull: 5
For the first time it gives the impression of having a few cracks in its perfect size. And we are not just talking about the single-seater, which appeared vulnerable, but also about the organization of a team that probably in recent months has attempted to hide under the carpet the dust of the internal slaughterhouses that tear it apart. But someone has lifted the carpet and the question is consequent: the empire begins to falter?
Sergio Perez: 5
Race again anonymouswith that kamikaze-like incipit that made Verstappen say, once he saw the replay of the start, “But is this guy crazy?”. If he had struck, in hell would he have any hope of getting confirmation.
Kevin Magnussen: 4
He collected penalty left and right, almost as if they were stickers to be glued onto an album. Now if you find it, it’s best to go far away.
Valtteri Bottas: 3
Caught red-handed: he faked (with artificial intelligence?) the referendum on the driver of the day, finishing second behind Norris. A nice humorist. But the track said he would have been faster if he had raced the beloved bikes.
Zack Brown: 0
I agree that he saw the team he owns win and that Norris who is under his wing, but in his exultation he looked like an ogre, with a transfigured face. A little restraint, dammit.
