F1 News
New battle between Verstappen and Leclerc: who will take the win in Miami?
The Miami Grand Prix looks to be another stage on which Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc will battle it out. Both drivers have been keeping each other in balance all season and seem to be adding a new chapter to that battle in America. What are the aspects to watch out for next weekend? GPblog takes a look at them.
1. Update from Ferrari
Ferrari had a disappointing race in Imola. Where the racing stable was hoping to perform well in the home race, Leclerc and Carlos Sainz didn't even end up on the podium. Next weekend in Miami, the team wants to do well. Therefore, among other things, it chooses to put a new internal combustion engine in Leclerc's car. Reportedly, Leclerc and Sainz will have an extra 10 HP at their disposal, with which Ferrari hopes to overtake Red Bull.
2. Leclerc must fight back
Leclerc, meanwhile, will realize better than anyone that he must be there in the United States. Although the Monegasque had a huge 46 point lead over Verstappen prior to the Imola GP, the reigning world champion's victory reduced that lead. It is therefore important for Leclerc to show Verstappen this weekend that he is not easy to beat, to prevent his rival from smelling blood.
3. Hooking up with Perez and Sainz
Meanwhile, Verstappen and Leclerc will be looking at the performance of Perez and Sainz. Last season made clear how important it is in a championship battle to have a good performing teammate next to you. Not only can he make sure that more is possible in terms of tire strategies, he can also keep his teammate out of the wind by not letting the direct competitor pass. Especially for Sainz the pressure will be on, as both in Australia and in Imola he did not manage to reach the finish line. Perez will want to at least match his second finishing position in Italy.
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4. Adaptability Red Bull and Ferrari
On a brand new circuit in Miami, Red Bull and Ferrari will have to search for the right setup. Only three one-hour free practice sessions give them the opportunity to find the right balance and fight for pole position in qualifying. In Miami it will be interesting to see which of the teams succeeds in getting the car ready for the big race. At first glance, Red Bull appears to have the top speed advantage, but the upgrades of Ferrari might just cause a surprise.
5. Increased pressure on both drivers
In the fifth race of the season, both drivers are faced with increasingly higher expectations. Verstappen, especially after last season, seems to be ready to deal with this pressure and concentrate mainly on his races. For Leclerc the challenge will be greater, as he has never encountered championship stress in Formula 1. For now, both drivers are getting along well both on and off the track, but the question is for how long. Ferrari and Red Bull can play an important role in this. Do they know how to keep the peace behind the scenes? Or will they choose to fight hard against each other?
