MIAMI GARDENS.- Despite the announcement of the departure next year of engineer Adrián Newey, the team Red Bull and its star driver Max Verstappen will continue to be favorites this weekend for the Miami Grand Prix, the sixth round of the 24 that complete the Formula 1 season.
Not even the internal crisis that came to light in February due to accusations of “inappropriate behavior” by an employee against director Christian Horner, which led to an internal investigation that ended in favor of the leader, has been enough to deprive the Austrian team of its overwhelming dominance.
On Wednesday, Red Bull announced the departure of Newey, architect of the success of the team that he joined a year after its creation (2006) and with which he won six world titles for constructors and seven for drivers. According to the BBC, his departure would be linked to these power struggles.
Verstappen, who won the first two editions of the Florida Grand Prix, held around the Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins football team, appears relaxed and focused on obtaining his third crown in Miami on Sunday.
The Grand Prix has a plus with the second of the six sprints of the season taking place on Saturday.
Good memories from Miami:
“I have good memories of this circuit! With the humidity and heat, it is always one of the most physical races of the season. In the sprint, it will be important to understand the data collected in the car as best as possible to adjust the details,” the Dutchman explained.
His retirement in Australia at the end of March after a brake problem is a distant memory for the three-time world champion, who won four of the first five grands prix of the season and leads the championship with a 25-point advantage over his teammate Sergio Pérez.
The Mexican is the first on the list of pursuers who will try to break Verstappen’s dominance. With four podiums in five races and great support in the United States, ‘Checo’ Pérez will try to maintain the momentum he has shown since the start of the season.
Source: AFP
