Scuderia Ferrari HP swiftly returned to the podium after a two-week hiatus, securing a third-place finish in the Miami Grand Prix courtesy of Charles Leclerc. Following a dual podium achievement in Australia, the team now boasts an impressive tally of six podium finishes in the six races so far, solidifying its second position in the championship standings.
The Race: Leclerc’s third podium of the season was attributed in part to a well-executed strategy that saw him pit on lap 19, undercutting Oscar Piastri, who had overtaken him earlier. Leclerc might have clinched second place behind Max Verstappen if not for the Safety Car deployed following a collision between Kevin Magnussen and Logan Sargeant on lap 28. Lando Norris capitalized on this incident, clinching his maiden Formula 1 victory. Carlos Sainz, unfortunately, couldn’t capitalize on the Safety Car period due to an earlier pit stop, finishing fifth behind Piastri. Sainz faced challenges at the start, forced wide by Sergio Perez’s error at the first corner. Despite a thrilling duel with Piastri, Sainz settled for fourth place. Scuderia Ferrari HP departed Miami with 38 points (27 from the main race and 11 from the Sprint Race), accumulating a total of 189 points, trailing the championship leader by 48.
Start of the European Season: The World Championship resumes in two weeks with the inaugural European round of the season, the Gran Premio del Made in Italy e dell’Emilia-Romagna at Imola, making a comeback after last year’s cancellation due to devastating floods in the region.
Driver Statements:
Charles Leclerc #16: Reflecting on the race, Leclerc acknowledged a tough battle, particularly after an early pit stop affected their strategy. Despite struggles on older tires, he anticipates upcoming upgrades to enhance their competitiveness, extending congratulations to Norris on his breakthrough victory.
Carlos Sainz #55: Sainz congratulated Norris on his well-deserved victory, though lamenting his own race, marked by a descent from second to fourth after avoiding Perez’s incident. Despite the setbacks, Sainz was content with the team’s performance and looks forward to the next challenge.
Fred Vasseur, Team Principal Scuderia Ferrari HP: Vasseur praised Norris and McLaren for their victory, acknowledging Ferrari’s strong performance, particularly in staying competitive with Verstappen throughout the race. Despite setbacks like Sainz’s compromised start, Vasseur emphasized the team’s positive aspects and anticipates a better showing at Imola, known for its thrilling races.
In anticipation of the upcoming Grand Prix at Imola, the entire Ferrari team in Maranello is committed to achieving improved results following the Miami race.
