Former F1 driver Jonathan Palmer says that being struck by Max Verstappen at the F1 Miami Grand Prix must be a “worry” for Scuderia Ferrari.
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz dominate the Front Row at the Miami International Autodrome and are ready to stand together with Red Bull Racing.
However, Carlos Sainz succumbed to Max Verstappen in the first corner as early as possible. That weak defense immediately increased the chances of Max Verstappen’s victory, Jonathan Palmer wrote in a post-race column on Formula1.com.
“At this point Ferrari is worried, even at the Miami circuit where Verstappen started behind both cars and the majority of other drivers found it difficult to overtake without significant tire offsets. It must be a way to beat them. “
“Verstappen did not rely on team tactics or strategy to win. He defeated Sainz in the first corner and immediately divided Ferrari.”
“Sainz was a little hindered by his inside line and surrounded by Leclerc in Apex, but could he have gone a little more aggressive to squeeze Verstappen in front of the braking zone?”
“This move was paramount to Verstappen’s victory. Front-Ow lockout is a very dangerous advantage for the team as it gives the team a strategic option to cover the closest threat in the pit stop phase. “
Charles Leclerc held it down on his own until the eighth lap, but Max Verstappen took the pressure one step further, and it became an easy prey, mainly thanks to the excellent linear speed of the RB18.
“At the end of lap 8, Verstappen was in Leclerc’s DRS range. The straight, fast Red Bull was beginning to put pressure on Leclerc, who was showing signs of fighting the front tires,” Palmer added.
“Leclerc was quickly captured and inflated on turn 17 as soon as Verstappen approached Ferrari’s mirror.”
“This gave Verstappen a great opportunity to pass. It was easy for Leclerc to give Verstappen an inside line for Turn 1.”
“Passing a race lead isn’t much easier than that, especially for drivers who are almost certainly rivals of Leclerc’s main title.”
So far, there has been a fierce battle between Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen. Leclerc leads the drivers ranking by only 19 points.
However, Jonathan Palmer believes Charles Leclerc was “too generous” to his rival Max Verstappen in Miami.
“After all the drama of the title battle with Hamilton in 2021, Verstappen must have appreciated this fight so far. Both drivers have a great deal of respect for each other,” said John Sun.・ Palmer said.
“But Miami’s Leclerc was certainly too generous.
“Maybe he wanted to get a DRS on the long straight on the next lap, but unlike Bahrain and Jeddah where the tactic worked, the next DRS was not at the corner exit, but after seven turns.
“Verstappen could and did spurt.”
Category: Category: F1 / Max Verstappen / Ferrari / Red bull / F1 Miami GP