Red Bull has been the most dominant team in F1 this season, and it was on full display once again at the 2023 Miami GP. After Max Verstappen took his third race win of the season followed by Sergio Perez’s P2 finish, team principal Christian Horner was left wondering where the other teams are.
Red Bull has won all five races this year, and no other team has come close to threatening them. Horner, who insisted that he’s confused about why other teams aren’t matching them, expected Ferrari and Mercedes to catch up by now.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1 after the race, Horner revealed that his team has never had as dominant a start to a season, as this. He is adamant that the progress they made over the winter break was in no means revolutionary. He labeled their start as “normal” and is left “wondering where the others are”.
Max Verstappen continues his charge toward a third title win
Verstappen has had a shaky start to the season by his standards, despite winning three out of the five races so far. The main reason behind his nervy beginning is his teammate Sergio Perez, who has won the other two races and is closer than ever to Verstappen.
Ahead of the Miami GP, Perez was just six points behind him and started the race from P1 whereas Verstappen was starting from ninth position. This put the Mexican driver in a commanding position to drive the dominant RB19 toward victory and lead the world championship for the first time in his career.
Unfortunately for Perez, Verstappen’s bold tyre strategy paid off, allowing the Dutchman to lead the race by the 21st lap, and winning it quite comfortably in the end. Verstappen has now moved 14 points clear of Perez in the standings.
Red Bull drivers engage in an intense duel
With 10 laps to go in the Miami GP, Verstappen, who was on fresher medium tyers managed to overtake Perez who was on older hard tyres. However, the ‘Mexican Minister of Defense‘ did not let his teammate pass without a fight.
Despite the visible pace disadvantage, Perez managed to hold Verstappen, who was within DRS range, off. After the race, when the two Red Bull drivers shook hands, Verstappen praised Perez for his valiant effort of defending him.
“That was good defending,” he told the 33-year-old, and the video was shared on Twitter by RBR Daily.
