Max Verstappen Wins Miami GP Sprint as Red Bull Takes 1-2
Max Verstappen continued his strong start to the 2024 Formula 1 season by winning the Miami Grand Prix Sprint, leading a Red Bull-Ferrari battle across all 19 laps at the Miami International Autodrome.
Verstappen started from pole after topping Sprint Qualifying and converted his position into victory, finishing 3.371 seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc. Red Bull teammate Sergio Pérez completed the podium, finishing 5.095 seconds behind Verstappen.
The Sprint featured an early Safety Car after incidents involving Lando Norris and Lance Stroll, with both drivers ultimately classified as DNFs. Verstappen maintained the lead after the restart while Leclerc remained within striking distance, but Ferrari could not find a way past the Red Bull.
Daniel Ricciardo produced one of the standout drives of the Sprint, taking fourth for RB. He finished just 14.971 seconds behind Verstappen and ahead of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. Nico Hülkenberg, Yuki Tsunoda, Pierre Gasly and Logan Sargeant completed the top 10.
Lewis Hamilton finished 16th, while Fernando Alonso was classified 17th. The Sprint result also gave Verstappen another eight championship points as the championship leader continued to build momentum.
2024 Miami GP Sprint Results
| Position | Driver | Team | Laps | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 19 | 31:31.383 |
| 2 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 19 | +3.371s |
| 3 | Sergio Pérez | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 19 | +5.095s |
| 4 | Daniel Ricciardo | RB Honda RBPT | 19 | +14.971s |
| 5 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | 19 | +15.222s |
| 6 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 19 | +15.750s |
| 7 | Nico Hülkenberg | Haas Ferrari | 19 | +22.054s |
| 8 | Yuki Tsunoda | RB Honda RBPT | 19 | +29.816s |
| 9 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | 19 | +31.880s |
| 10 | Logan Sargeant | Williams Mercedes | 19 | +34.355s |
The FIA’s official classification confirms the complete Sprint result.
Verstappen Sets the Pace
Verstappen’s Sprint victory set up an intriguing main event at the Miami Grand Prix. He had already secured pole for Sunday’s race after setting a 1:27.241 in qualifying, with Leclerc second and Sainz third.
One correction to the original article: the fastest lap referenced in the article should not be attributed to Verstappen. For the 2024 Miami Grand Prix weekend, Oscar Piastri recorded the race’s official fastest lap during the Sunday Grand Prix with a 1:30.634.
The Sprint itself was about Verstappen’s control at the front, Ferrari’s challenge through Leclerc, Pérez’s podium finish and Ricciardo’s strong fourth-place result.
With the Sprint complete, attention turned to Sunday’s main Miami Grand Prix — where Verstappen started from pole but ultimately finished second behind Lando Norris, who claimed his first F1 victory.
Source: FIA / Formula 1 official results.
Image: Motorsport Images
