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Max Verstappen strengthened his Formula 1 title defense by beating Red Bull Racing teammate Sergio Perez to victory at the 2023 Miami Grand Prix on Sunday, May 7.
Verstappen made his way from ninth on the grid to emerge victorious, while pole-sitter Perez dropped a place to finish P2. Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso finished P3 to complete the podium.
In addition to the race win, Verstappen won an extra point for setting the fastest lap. He impressed fans and also took home the ‘Driver of the Day’ award.
George Russell was fourth, with Ferrari's Carlos Sainz finishing in fifth, despite being hit with a five-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane. Lewis Hamilton gained seven positions to finish P6, while Charles Leclerc was P7. Pierre Gasly (P8) and Esteban Ocon (P9) made it a double points finish for Alpine, while Haas' Kevin Magnussen took home the final points-scoring position.
On that note, here are a few noteworthy stats and records from the 2023 Miami GP:
#1 Max Verstappen equals Sebastian Vettel
The 2023 Miami GP win saw Max Verstappen equal Sebastian Vettel (38) for most wins with Red Bull Racing. He has also equaled Vettel in third for most F1 wins with a single team, behind Lewis Hamilton-Mercedes and Michael Schumacher-Ferrari.
#2 Alonso aging like fine wine
Fernando Alonso's podium finish in Miami was his fourth in the first five races of the 2023 season, and 102nd career podium. He is now one short of equalling Kimi Raikkonen for fifth in the list of most podium finishes in F1.
#3 Max Verstappen emulates Niki Lauda
Max Verstappen's victory in Mami came after he started the race in P9. In doing so, he became the first driver to win from ninth since Niki Lauda at the 1984 French Grand Prix.
#4 Red Bull go from strength to strength
For only the seventh time in Formula 1 history, a single team has won the first five races of the year. Red Bull Racing are the first team since Mercedes in 2019 to achieve the feat, and only the fifth different F1 team to do so.
After the Miami GP, Red Bull lead the constructors’ championship by 122 points, the largest points lead ever held by a team after the fifth round of the season. The record was previously held by Mercedes — 113 points in 2014.
#5 Max Verstappen goes level with Michael Schumacher
Having scored points in every race since the 2022 Emilia Romagna GP, Verstappen's Maimi win saw him equal Michael Schumacher for the fourth longest points streak in Formula 1 history.
