Max Verstappen showed his class and skill as he won the Miami Grand Prix from ninth on the grid. The Dutchman lost his chance to set a qualifying time on Saturday after a botched first run, and Charles Leclerc's late-session crash denied him a further chance. However, Verstappen was equipped with the hard tire on a contra-strategy to Perez, who started the race from pole position on the medium compound.
Verstappen initially dropped down to 10th at the start but quickly dispatched the cars ahead of him by the end of the second lap. He then made quickfire passes on Leclerc and Kevin Magnussen, moving him closer to the front of the field. Verstappen eventually cleared Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso, who finished third, to take the lead from Perez, who finished second, after the Mexican reported that his front right tire was beginning to give up.
Verstappen managed to maintain the gap prior to his pitstop for medium tires later in the race, and Perez had the harder job of attempting to close down an 18-second disadvantage. Verstappen eventually emerged 1.6s behind Perez after his pitstop, but he quickly caught up and passed his teammate to seal the victory, logging the fastest lap on the penultimate lap.
George Russell finished fourth, followed by Sainz in fifth, Lewis Hamilton in sixth, Leclerc in seventh, Pierre Gasly in eighth, Esteban Ocon in ninth, and Magnussen in tenth. Verstappen's epic comeback in Miami Grand Prix is a testament to his talent and determination.
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