Aditya ChaudhuriFour races in, the Championship battle is evenly poised between the two Red Bull drivers. With Sergio Pérez well in the fight thanks to some good fortune going his way, we have set for us an exciting intra-team battle.
As we head into the 2023 Miami Grand Prix, let’s take a look at a few predictions.
Verstappen to dominate
After the opening four races of the 2023 Formula One season, Max Verstappen leads Sergio Pérez by six points, with both the Red Bull drivers having won two races each. Verstappen has finished two races on the top step of the podium and two at second place. Pérez, meanwhile, has two wins, one second-place finish and one fifth-place finish. His P5 showing in Melbourne is what puts him in second in the Drivers’ Standings instead of first.
But if we are talking about luck, Verstappen has had little of it. He was all set to win the race in Baku before an ill-timed Safety Car ruined his race, which played right in Pérez’s hands, who was handed a fortunate win that keeps him in the Championship race.
The main question is: how long can Pérez keep up the fight against Verstappen? If he wants to have an actual shot at the title, Pérez needs to head into the summer break with a lead, which is unlikely. Verstappen is as determined and focused as ever, and we will definitely see him bounce back strong in Miami after a disappointing week in Azerbaijan.
Verstappen is one of the very few drivers who do not let pressure get to them, and even though Pérez is putting up a proper battle, it will not affect the two-time reigning World Champion. Expect the Dutchman to bounce back strongly in Miami with a win and build his Championship lead as he looks to secure his third World Title.
Pole prediction: Max Verstappen / Sergio Pérez
Win prediction: Red Bull
Aston Martin: second best?
Red Bull have already built a 93-point gap in the Constructors’ Standings and look all but set to retain the Championship. But it’s not them who have been making waves in the Constructors’ this season; it’s Aston Martin.
Aston Martin, who finished sixth in the Standings last year, currently lie second in the table, having scored three podiums in the opening four races. Fernando Alonso has had his best start to the season in almost a decade, scoring three podiums in the opening three races. His teammate Lance Stroll has also enjoyed a strong start and, barring his DNF in Saudi Arabia, has finished in the top seven of every other race. The two Aston Martin drivers have complemented each other almost perfectly.
Aston Martin have gotten the better of Ferrari in almost all of the races so far this season. Their strong performances speak volumes about the work put in by the team in the winter break. Heading into the Miami race weekend, they are once again favourites for being the second-best team on the grid.
Expect Alonso and Stroll to take the fight to Ferrari once again in Miami.
AlphaTauri going backwards
While Aston Martin have had a stellar and upward rise from last season, Alpine have fallen backwards. They currently sit sixth in the Constructors’ table with a total of eight points from four races.
The team have been plagued by not only technical issues but also a genuine lack of pace. With the likes of Mercedes and McLaren also struggling, this was Alpine’s chance to break into the top half of the midfield, but the French team are severely lacking in both pace and performance.
In Baku, Pierre Gasly suffered a massive engine blowout during the Practice Sessions, while during the race, Esteban Ocon struggled for pace. To make matters worse, Alpine messed up their strategy as well, seemingly having forgotten to bring in Ocon for a pit-stop during the Baku race.
Alpine’s main issue this season has been their lack of pace, and the signs don’t look positive for them going into the Miami event. Expect them to have another tough weekend.
Race details: When and where to watch (India)
Circuit: Miami International Autodrome
Venue: Miami, USA
Practice Session 1 time: 00:00 (IST), May 6
Practice Session 2 time: 03:30 (IST), May 6
Practice Session 3 time: 22:00 (IST), May 6
Qualifying Session time: 01:30 (IST), May 7
Main Race time: 01:00 (IST), May 8
Where to watch: F1 TV Pro
