Max Verstappen took his almost inevitable victory in Formula 1’s 2024 Miami sprint race but, like in sprint qualifying, he seemed not to enjoy driving his Red Bull all that much in the process.

Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari survived a pre-race pitlane collision with Esteban Ocon’s Alpine to give Verstappen’s Red Bull some genuine hassle through the opening lap.

But the safety car neutralised any momentum Leclerc built up.

And after the restart the Ferrari driver was never able to get within DRS range so ended up driving the remaining 16 of the 19 laps in effective stalemate with Verstappen.

Even with Verstappen complaining his Red Bull felt “terrible, zero rear grip, like quali yesterday”, there was just no opening for Leclerc.

RICCIARDO HANGS WITH THE BIG DOGS

Sprint qualifying was the most impressive thing Daniel Ricciardo has done in an F1 car so far in 2024 - the best thing he’s done since Mexico qualifying in 2023.

When Sergio Perez ran deep into Turn 1 after the start, Ricciardo got his RB into the top three and the (sprint) podium looked on.

It didn’t end that way. Perez managed to repass Ricciardo with DRS shortly after the restart - a crucial move to avoid being upstaged by one of the drivers in a lesser car looking to steal his drive away for 2025.

Ricciardo’s RB doesn’t belong in the top six of a Formula 1 race. Its natural pace dictates it’s a marginal top 10 contender really. But as the tyres wilted in 42°C track temperatures, Ricciardo impressively clung to fourth place despite Sainz’s best efforts to attack in the final laps.

NORRIS’S MESSY WEEKEND CONTINUES