The starting line up at the Miami Grand Prix made for unusual reading, as the top five included Red Bull, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Haas and Alpine.
The mixed grid was caused by a Q3 crash from Charles Leclerc at Turn 7, which cut short the session before several drivers had a chance to record a flying lap.
Leclerc’s crash, the second time he spun into the barriers during the weekend, resulted in mockery and derision from Red Bull, as Helmut Marko claimed the team might alter its strategy going forward to avoid the Monegasque’s mistakes.
“You just can’t go on the last lap behind Leclerc these days,” Marko said sarcastically.
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“It’s great to have Perez on pole but it’s a pity for Max.
“He has been three-four tenths ahead all the time.”
The Q3 incident would prove irrelevant in the end, as Verstappen easily glided through the field, overtaking everyone in his way, including Perez.
Verstappen’s dominance throughout the weekend was clear for all to see during the Grand Prix, as the RB19 proved to be unstoppable regardless of who got in his way.
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Red Bull has won every race of the season so far, including the Baku Sprint, giving the team a 112 point lead over their nearest rivals Aston Martin.
In five rounds, Red Bull has secured four 1-2 finishes for their drivers, with Australia proving the exception after Perez started from the pitlane.
In the Drivers’ Standings, the battle for the 2023 remains tight, with only 14 points dividing Verstappen and Perez, the season is shaping up to be a tense fight in the Red Bull garage.