F1 Miami Grand Prix 2023 LIVE! Race stream, updates and latest news today
Sergio Perez has the chance to snatch the lead in the Formula One world championship today when he starts on pole in the Miami Grand Prix, with Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen stuck back in ninth after a rollercoaster qualifying session.
It was certainly a rocky ride for Charles Leclerc, who put his Ferrari in the wall ahead of what promises to be a fascinating F1 race in the United States. Fernando Alonso, Carlos Sainz and Kevin Magnussen complete an unusual top-four on the grid with Lewis Hamilton also labouring around the Hard Rock Stadium.
A victory for Perez this evening will guarantee first place in the 2023 championship, which has long been considered a procession for Red Bull – so how will they manage their drivers in a full-on scrap? Follow the F1 Miami Grand Prix live via Standard Sport’s race blog, featuring expert analysis from Matt Majendie in Miami!
Live updates
Mercedes team orders
Mercedes team radio dials into Hamilton to let Russell by for sixth place, with the veteran told he’s fighting Ocon who’s 1.7 seconds up the road.
“I’m not backing off though,” he reminds the team.
F1 Miami Grand Prix: Lap 31/57
Red Bull tell Verstappen to use up his Hard tyres with a potential pit stop coming up for a final run on the Mediums.
Ocon now dropping off with his Hards as Alonso and Sainz drop him down to fifth.
F1 Miami Grand Prix: Lap 29/57
Top ten at halfway:
- Verstappen
- Perez
- Ocon (yet to pit)
- Alonso
- Sainz
- Hamilton (yet to pit)
- Russell
- Hulkenberg (yet to pit)
- Tsunoda (yet to pit)
- Gasly
F1 Miami Grand Prix: Lap 28/57
Alonso retakes the podium impetus with a move on Sainz into Turn 11.
Perez is 16 seconds off Verstappen, and Christian Horner has just told Sky F1 that their data predicts a shootout over the final three laps!
Matt Majendie in Miami
From the outset of the weekend, all talk was of a straight head-to-head battle between the two Red Bulls such is their superior pace.
That dampened just a little when Max Verstappen qualified in ninth place but it looks all set to be a race between the two teammates for the win come the final laps.
Should Perez win, he takes the championship lead for what will be the first time Verstappen has not let the championship since the Spanish Grand Prix almost a year ago.
Fernando Alonso pits
From third place, the Aston Martin returns to the track in fifth place, although Ocon in third is yet to stop.
F1 Miami Grand Prix: Lap 25/57
A bit of a scuffle between Stroll and Russell in their fight over ninth place, even with the Canadian having not yet pitted.
Mercedes confirm his front wing is fine after Stroll does a decent job holding him up in defence of Alonso up the road. Russell eventually gets the place, though.
Five-second penalty for Carlos Sainz
A bit of an open-and-shut case for the Ferrari, who will have five seconds added to his race time unless he serves the penalty at his next stop.
F1 Miami Grand Prix: Lap 23/57
Trouble for Sainz, who’s under investigation for speeding in the pit lane.
A five-second penalty would hamper what has been a very decent day so far for the Ferrari.
Sergio Perez pits!
A quick, 2.2-second stop for Red Bull as the race leader pits, coming back out ahead of Sainz who overtakes Hulkenberg down the start-finish straight for fifth.
Verstappen will run longer on the Hard tyres then be on a quicker compound later in the race… can Perez stop him?
