Verstappen "lucky" after Ferrari miss safety car chance - Horner
Verstappen "lucky" after Ferrari miss safety car chance - Horner
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner believes Max Verstappen was "lucky" Ferrari decided against making a free pit stop under safety car conditions at the Miami Grand Prix.
Verstappen came from third on the grid to take his third win of the season after overtaking title rival Charles Leclerc on lap eight before holding off a late charge from the Ferrari driver after a safety car closed the gap between the pair.
The Dutchman had looked in complete control of the inaugural event at the Miami International Autodrome and opened up a seven-second lead on medium tyres in the first stint before the late safety car threatened to allow Leclerc a chance of victory.
But with Verstappen past the pit entry as the race direction flicked from virtual-to-full safety car, Ferrari failed to react.
"After the safety car, we were quite lucky Ferrari didn't pit as they could have put on the soft tyre, and so that neutralised things," explained Horner when speaking to Sky Sports F1.
"Once Charles was in the DRS zone we couldn't shake him off.
"Max had so much pressure in that position. It's so easy to lock a wheel, but he didn't make any mistakes, he kept it clean. It took him about five or six laps to break the DRS and he was able to manage it from there."
On the event in Miami as a whole, Horner insisted: "It's been insane. I've never known such interest and such passion.
"I think it's been great for the American public to tune into Formula 1."
Horner jokes Verstappen "needs to keep finishing"
The result adds to the Verstappen's triumphs in Saudi Arabia and Imola, although his two retirements in the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix and in Australia mean Leclerc remains at the top of the standings by 19 points.
Horner quipped: "He [Verstappen] just needs to keep finishing! [But] reliability is always going to be an issue."
After Verstappen was hampered by a hydraulic issue during Friday practice, team-mate Sergio Perez was forced to contend with a power unit issue, preventing him from challenging for a podium.
"We had a sensor issue on Checo's engine, the guys did well to move them around but he lost around 30 horsepower with that," Horner added.
"He was losing half a second a lap. Without that he could have finished second.
"You saw at Imola how quickly things can move around. We've got some interesting races coming up. The car is running well.
"We've got some developments coming later in the summer. We need to save a bit of weight, but we're on a good trajectory."
Related news
Miami GP organiser opens up on MAJOR plans to reinvent race
Tennis legend Federer addresses INFAMOUS Jackie Stewart moment at Miami GP
F1 in the US dealt HUGE blow by one Miami GP stat
Miami Grand Prix wasn't boring but F1 is... and there is a KEY reason why
Most read
FIA take action after Verstappen track limits mishap
F1 News Today: FIA make changes as Mercedes receive double penalty and Horner curses bad luck
Red Bull to replace driver at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Stroll issues Alonso Aston Martin contract verdict
Horner takes aim at Kravitz with savage jibe at Sky Sports pundit
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Nyck De Vries
- Liam Lawson
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2023
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2023
- Grand Prix of Australia 2023
- Grand Prix of China 2023
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2023
- Miami Grand Prix 2023
- Qatar Airways Gran Premio Del Made In Italy E Dell'emilia Romagna 2023
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2023
- AWS Gran Premio de España 2023
- Grand Prix du Canada 2023
- Grand Prix of Austria 2023
- Aramco Grand Prix of Great Britain 2023
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2023
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2023
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2023
- Grand Prix of Italy 2023
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2023
- Grand Prix of Japan 2023
- Qatar Grand Prix 2023
- Grand Prix of the United States 2023
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2023
- Rolex Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2023
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2023
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2023
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860