It’s time for F1’s first trip to the USA in 2024, and the first of six races in the Americas. Miami, Florida is the host venue for the sixth round of the 2024 season, and it’s also the second sprint race of the season, hot on the heels of the first one last time out.

The Miami International Autodrome, built around the Hard Rock Stadium, is certainly quite a glamourous venue. Last season saw Max Verstappen win from ninth on the grid, overcoming Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez, and ultimately cruising to victory. Whether he would enjoy a repeat performance this time out, in conditions that were largely damp, would remain to be seen.

It certainly did not pan out Verstappen’s way in the sprint, and things did not go well for Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton either. In variable conditions in sprint qualifying 2, both Red Bull and Mercedes got their timing horribly wrong, leaving neither Verstappen or Hamilton able to complete a flying lap in time. For either one of those teams to make such a catastrophic calculation was highly unusual; for both to do it, and at the same race, bordered on Biblical disaster. The net result of this failure meant that for the first time, Meerkat Racing had a car in the third part of a qualifying session, in the shape of Theo Pourchaire. At the front of the grid, Perez and the Ferraris of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc, all eyed victory.

For a time, it appeared that Perez might gain a confidence-boosting victory, but in the end Sainz was able to get the job done for the second sprint race in a row, overcoming both his teammate and the Red Bull to do so. Behind them, Verstappen quickly made up places to minimise the damage, whilst Hamilton slowly crept up the field. The seven-time champion did not expect to get held up behind the Meerkat of Pourchaire, but the young Frenchman made life difficult for Hamilton across several laps. Pourchaire had opted for the soft tyre, a risk, since the mediums were guaranteed to comfortably go the distance, but he made them last, and finished 13th, in a credible display.

Perez would fail to even land a sprint podium. He was squeezed into fourth by the fast McLaren of Oscar Piastri.

For the main event, the competitors would complete 57 laps around the 5.4KM circuit. DRS would grant overtaking opportunities into turn 17, coming at the end of a long straight, though another DRS zone leading to turn 1 could grant chances to retake places. The stretch from turn 8 down to turn 11 is another potential overtaking location, being a long, fast curve. With race conditions proving slippery, and with DRS disabled at the start, good traction out of corners and a good slipstream down the long, fast sections of the track would prove decisive.

It was not a surprise to see that Max Verstappen landed pole for the grand prix itself, and he got away well from teammate Perez. In fact, it would be fair to describe his performance as dominant, to a level previously not seen so far in 2024. No one had any answer to his pace in the greasy and wet conditions, and Verstappen sailed into the sunset, untroubled by the cars behind him.

Miami would prove a frustrating weekend all round for Hamilton, and it was not glorious for teammate George Russell either. Hamilton himself would finish 12th, several seconds behind the Meerkat of Pourchaire, whilst Russell could only manage ninth, sandwiched between the Racing Bulls of Tsunoda and Ricciardo.

The issues at Mercedes are showing no signs of improving. For Hamilton, it was especially embarrassing when Pourchaire streamed by with ease down into turn 17, with no chance for the Briton to reclaim the place. It remains clear that the Silver Arrows have not come to grips with the ground effect system, and to be so clearly out-muscled by the new team on the grid will be of grave concern, as will their on-going struggle to match even the pace of the Racing Bulls. Six races in, and Mercedes have just 13 points on the board. It is a far cry from their recent glory days.

Where does this leave the standings? Verstappen’s advantage over Leclerc grows to 26 points, giving Verstappen a win’s margin to his closest challenger. Sainz retired from the grand prix with engine trouble, so loses ground to his teammate ahead, and also to Norris behind. Perez has climbed back ahead of Piastri, and the two Aston Martin drivers remain as they were. Tsunoda had a great weekend, and has leap-frogged teammate Ricciardo.

In the constructor’s standings, the gap has fallen to eight points, in the wake of Sainz’ DNF from the grand prix. McLaren have further consolidated third in the standings, and Aston Martin are looking comfortable in fourth. Mercedes have lost more ground to Racing Bull, and it’s as you were for the remaining teams.

Next time, F1 returns to one of its classic tracks: Imola.

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