2023 Miami Grand Prix: Our F1 Driver Report Card

The glitz and glamour of the Miami Grand Prix weekend delivered a spectacle of high-octane racing, dazzling performances, and a few unexpected twists. From Friday’s practice sessions to Sunday’s main event, the Sunshine State witnessed a fascinating display of skill, strategy, and sheer determination. While some drivers soared, making remarkable comebacks and executing flawless races, others found themselves battling misfortune, car limitations, or uncharacteristic errors. This comprehensive review delves deep into each driver’s performance, dissecting their qualifying efforts, race strategies, on-track battles, and overall impact on a thrilling weekend in Florida.

The championship leader, Max Verstappen, staged a recovery drive for the ages, navigating from ninth on the grid to clinch a dominant victory, even overcoming his pole-sitting teammate Sergio Perez. But was Verstappen’s masterclass truly the most outstanding individual performance amidst a field of hungry competitors? Or did another driver quietly achieve remarkable feats against the odds?

Here are RaceFans’ in-depth driver ratings for the Miami Grand Prix, offering a detailed analysis of who shone brightest and who struggled under the Miami sun.

Max Verstappen – 7/10

Qualified: 9th (-8 places behind team mate, -0.514s)
Start: Held position
Strategy: One-stop (H-M)
Finished: Winner (+1 place ahead of team mate)

• Showcased superior pace in all timed sessions leading up to Q3, hinting at raw speed.
• Commanded the top spot in the final two practice sessions and Q1/Q2, underlining pre-qualifying dominance.
• A crucial error on his initial Q3 run, followed by a red flag incident, left him P9 on the grid, a rare setback.
• Executed a bold strategy, starting on hard tyres, briefly losing a place to Bottas before reclaiming it and overtaking Ocon on Lap 1.
• Demonstrated remarkable race craft, dispatching Bottas, Magnussen, and Leclerc in a single decisive manoeuvre, then smoothly passing Russell, Gasly, Sainz, and Alonso to reach second by Lap 15.
• Inherited the lead after Perez’s pit stop and astonishingly extended his advantage on significantly older tyres, proving his exceptional tyre management and pace.
• Pitted on Lap 45 for medium tyres, swiftly closing the gap to Perez and executing a clinical pass around the outside of Turn 1 to reclaim the lead.
• Cruised to a dominant victory with a comfortable five-second margin, solidifying his championship lead and showcasing unparalleled control.

For the vast majority of the Miami Grand Prix weekend, Max Verstappen appeared utterly in command, displaying an intimidating pace that left his rivals scrambling. His performance across the practice sessions and the initial qualifying segments was a masterclass in car control and raw speed. However, a singular, uncharacteristic error on his first Q3 attempt, compounded by an untimely red flag, meant a frustrating ninth-place start. Yet, what followed was a testament to his extraordinary talent. His recovery drive was not only impressive but almost inevitable, executed with a blend of aggression and surgical precision. Verstappen’s ability to not only climb through the field with ease but also to extend a lead on older hard tyres before making a decisive pass on his teammate speaks volumes. While his Q3 mistake costs him a perfect score, his race performance was nothing short of phenomenal, arguably one of the drives of the season.

Sergio Perez – 5/10

Qualified: Pole (+8 places ahead of team mate, +0.514s)
Start: Held position
Strategy: One-stop (M-H)
Finished: 2nd (-1 place behind team mate)

• Consistently trailed his teammate in every timed session until the crucial Q3.
• Secured provisional pole with a strong first Q3 run, an advantage confirmed by Leclerc’s subsequent crash, ending the session prematurely.
• Maintained the lead from the start, initially opening a modest gap on the field before his switch to hard tyres.
• Rejoined the race in fourth after his pit stop and quickly dispatched Ocon, resuming his charge.
• Struggled to close the gap to Verstappen, who was on older tyres, eventually losing time before briefly regaining the lead when Verstappen pitted.
• Conceded the lead to his teammate at Turn 1 following a decisive outside overtake by Verstappen, ultimately finishing in a distant second place.

Following a truly commendable display in Baku, Sergio Perez arrived in Miami with high expectations, particularly after securing a somewhat fortuitous pole position. While his initial Q3 lap was indeed strong, the circumstances surrounding his pole – primarily due to Leclerc’s crash – cast a shadow over its true merit. In the race, Perez’s performance, though free of major errors, lacked the decisive edge required to challenge his teammate. He was unable to extend a commanding lead, a critical weakness exposed when Verstappen, starting from ninth, systematically hunted him down. The stark reality of being overtaken by his teammate, who had battled through the pack in a fully green-flag race, highlighted a noticeable disparity in raw pace and tyre management. This performance, while securing a P2, felt ordinary and fell short of what’s expected from a driver vying for the championship in the fastest car on the grid.

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Charles Leclerc – 3/10

Qualified: 7th (-4 places behind team mate, +0.512s)
Start: +1 place
Strategy: One-stop (M-H)
Finished: 7th (-2 places behind team mate)

• Endured a costly spin into the Turn 7 barriers during Free Practice 2, causing significant damage to his car’s front end.
• Made another crucial error at Turn 17 on his first Q3 lap, placing him seventh, before crashing out again on his second attempt, prematurely ending the session for everyone.
• Gained an initial place from Magnussen at the start, only to be swiftly re-passed by both the Haas driver and Max Verstappen in quick succession.
• Ran in eighth position until his pit stop for hard tyres, rejoining the race significantly down the order in 15th.
• Successfully overtook Zhou before engaging in a prolonged and challenging battle with Magnussen, eventually securing the position after multiple laps.
• Briefly overtook Gasly for sixth late in the race but immediately lost the position to Lewis Hamilton on the following lap, ultimately finishing a disappointing seventh.

From experiencing one of his career-best weekends to enduring one of his most challenging, Charles Leclerc’s Miami Grand Prix was riddled with uncharacteristic errors and struggles. Crashing his SF-23 not once but twice, including a session-ending shunt in qualifying, severely compromised his starting position and confidence. His qualifying mistake meant he started from a compromised seventh place. Throughout the race, despite starting on medium tyres, he visibly struggled with the car’s balance, finding it difficult to even dispatch Kevin Magnussen before his pit stop. Leclerc himself admitted to merely focusing on bringing the car home, a candid reflection of a weekend where pace and precision eluded him. Such a messy performance, highlighted by significant on-track errors and a palpable lack of rhythm, marks this as a weekend the Monegasque driver will be eager to forget.

Carlos Sainz Jnr – 6/10

Qualified: 3rd (+4 places ahead of team mate, -0.512s)
Start: Held position
Strategy: One-stop (M-H)
Finished: 5th (+2 places ahead of team mate)

• Secured an impressive third place on the grid, a result helped by the late red flag but built on a strong initial Q3 run.
• Maintained his third position at the start and initially pursued Fernando Alonso, demonstrating solid race pace in the opening laps before being caught and passed by Max Verstappen.
• Incurred a five-second time penalty for speeding in the pit lane during his hard tyre stop, a crucial error that could have cost him positions.
• Rejoined the track in seventh, making quick work of Hamilton and Hulkenberg, but subsequently lost a position to Alonso at Turn 11.
• Successfully overtook Esteban Ocon, who was yet to pit, but a self-inflicted mistake at Turn 7 meant he had to re-pass the Alpine driver on the next lap.
• Lost fourth place to George Russell at Turn 11 and was unable to regain it, ultimately finishing the race in fifth position.

Carlos Sainz’s Miami weekend was a mixed bag – a step up from his poor showing in Baku, but still far from faultless. Securing third on the grid, arguably an over-performance for the Ferrari’s current pace, showcased his ability to deliver under pressure during a chaotic Q3. His initial race stint was strong, and he effectively undercut Fernando Alonso. However, his race was blighted by a self-inflicted five-second pit lane speeding penalty, which, though not costing him a position directly, was a clear lapse in concentration. Furthermore, a mid-race mistake that allowed Ocon to temporarily re-pass him indicated a lack of consistent focus. While he managed to bring the car home in a respectable fifth, beating his teammate, these errors prevent a higher score, suggesting there’s still room for him to refine his consistency and decision-making under pressure.

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George Russell – 8/10

Qualified: 6th (+7 places ahead of team mate, -0.232s)
Start: +1 place
Strategy: One-stop (M-H)
Finished: 4th (+2 places ahead of team mate)

• Set the fastest time in the opening practice session, demonstrating early pace and adaptability.
• Narrowly scraped into Q3 in tenth place, then capitalized on the red flag to secure an excellent sixth position on the grid with his sole flying lap.
• Made a decisive move to pass Magnussen for fifth at the start, though he was ultimately unable to defend against the charging Max Verstappen.
• Followed Verstappen through to overtake Gasly for fifth before pitting for hard tyres, rejoining the race in 12th position.
• Executed a series of sharp overtakes, passing Zhou, Stroll, and Tsunoda, and then was allowed past by teammate Hamilton to continue his climb.
• Capped off a strong performance by overtaking Ocon and then Carlos Sainz to secure an impressive fourth-place finish.

George Russell delivered a truly strong and commendable performance throughout the Miami weekend, firmly establishing himself as the leading Mercedes driver. His early pace, evidenced by topping FP1, set a positive tone. Despite a tight Q2, he pulled out an excellent Q3 lap to start sixth, leveraging the red flag effectively. In the race, Russell demonstrated exceptional racecraft and strategic awareness. He made a crucial gain at the start and pulled off a brilliant, opportunistic pass on Gasly. Post-pit stop, his charge through the midfield was incisive, featuring multiple well-executed overtakes on slower cars. To then cap it off by passing a Ferrari to claim fourth place was a testament to his skill and determination, extracting the absolute maximum from his Mercedes, which, outside of the Red Bulls and Alonso’s Aston Martin, was arguably the best possible result.

Lewis Hamilton – 6/10

Qualified: 13th (-7 places behind team mate, +0.232s)
Start: Held position
Strategy: One-stop (H-M)
Finished: 6th (-2 places behind team mate)

• Failed to advance to Q3, with his tyres reportedly being too cold in the crucial first sector of his final Q2 lap, leading to a disappointing 13th-place start.
• Opted for a hard-tyre start, maintaining his position in the early laps, struggling to find a way past Alexander Albon until Lap 15.
• Temporarily lost a place to Carlos Sainz on fresh tyres, but quickly recovered by overtaking Nico Hulkenberg.
• Was instructed not to hold up his teammate, allowing George Russell to pass him for sixth place, a clear team strategy.
• Pitted on Lap 37 for medium tyres, rejoining the race in 12th position.
• Executed effective overtakes on Valtteri Bottas and Kevin Magnussen to climb to eighth.
• Finished his strong recovery drive by passing Pierre Gasly and Charles Leclerc in the closing laps to secure a respectable sixth place.

After a disappointing Saturday, Lewis Hamilton staged a reasonable recovery in Miami, though he was ultimately outshone by his teammate. His Q2 exit, attributed to cold tyres, was a frustrating setback, leaving him well down the grid. Opting for a hard-to-medium tyre strategy meant a challenging opening stint, as he found himself battling slower cars and struggling for early pace. However, his patience paid off in the latter half of the race. Once on the faster medium tyres, Hamilton executed some characteristic late-race overtakes, picking off both Esteban Ocon and Charles Leclerc to secure a decent sixth-place finish. While a solid recovery, the gap to Russell throughout the weekend and his initial qualifying struggle prevent a higher rating. It was a race of damage limitation rather than outstanding performance for the seven-time champion.

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Esteban Ocon – 6/10

Qualified: 8th (-3 places behind team mate, +0.149s)
Start: -2 places
Strategy: One-stop (H-M)
Finished: 9th (-1 place behind team mate)

• Secured eighth place in Q3, having to settle for it after his first run on used tyres was a crucial tenth and a half slower than his teammate.
• Started on hard tyres but lost two positions at the start, dropping to tenth before successfully overtaking Bottas to reclaim ninth.
• Executed a long and effective opening stint on hard tyres, demonstrating good pace and rejoining in 11th after switching to mediums.
• Utilized the fresh medium tyres to efficiently catch and pass Kevin Magnussen, settling into ninth position where he ultimately finished the race.

Esteban Ocon had a perfectly respectable weekend in Miami, playing his part in Alpine securing ‘best of the rest’ honours with both cars in the points. His qualifying effort, while solid, saw him slightly behind Gasly, partially due to the Q3 red flag preventing a final improved lap. A less-than-ideal start saw him drop a couple of places, but his hard-tyre strategy paid dividends, allowing him to run a long and consistent first stint. His race pace on the mediums was strong, enabling him to make progress and finish just behind his teammate. While a competent performance, being consistently a shade behind Gasly in both qualifying and the race, particularly in direct comparison within the same team, justifies a slightly lower score. Nonetheless, it was a valuable points-scoring weekend for Ocon and Alpine.

Pierre Gasly – 7/10

Qualified: 5th (+3 places ahead of team mate, -0.149s)
Start: +1 place
Strategy: One-stop (M-H)
Finished: 8th (+1 place ahead of team mate)

• Comfortably progressed to Q3 in eighth place, then secured an excellent fifth position on the grid due to a strong first flying lap on used tyres and the subsequent red flag.
• Made a decisive move at the start, passing Magnussen to claim fourth place, but was then swiftly overtaken by both Max Verstappen and George Russell in consecutive corners.
• Pitted for hard tyres and rejoined the race in 14th, immediately embarking on a recovery drive.
• Executed clean overtakes on Zhou and Stroll before closing in on Yuki Tsunoda in tenth position.
• Benefitted from Tsunoda’s pit stop to gain ninth, then moved up to sixth as other rivals completed their stops ahead.
• Was unfortunately overtaken by both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in quick succession towards the end of the race, ultimately finishing in a respectable eighth place.

Pierre Gasly enjoyed a strong bounce-back weekend in Miami after a challenging few days in Baku. While he certainly benefited from the red flag in qualifying, his initial Q3 lap on used tyres was well-executed, placing him in a strong position to secure fifth on the grid. He then capitalized on his strong starting spot by passing Magnussen at the start. Throughout the race, Gasly showcased solid pace, efficiently dispatching slower cars and demonstrating improved racecraft. While he ultimately lost positions to a recovering Ferrari and Mercedes in the closing stages, there is no shame in being overtaken by faster cars with fresher tyres. His efforts to manage his race and bring home valuable points for Alpine mark this as a very good performance, cementing his improved form.

Lando Norris – 6/10

Qualified: 16th (+3 places ahead of team mate, -0.09s)
Start: -3 places
Strategy: One-stop (S-H)
Finished: 17th (+2 places ahead of team mate)

• Became the first driver eliminated from Q1, qualifying 16th, though he was still a tenth of a second faster than his teammate.
• Started on soft tyres but was unfortunately hit from behind by Nyck De Vries at the very first corner, dropping him significantly to 19th position.
• Suffered substantial floor damage from the collision, estimated to cost “two to three tenths a lap,” forcing an early pit stop for hard tyres on Lap 4.
• Managed to pass his teammate and gained several positions as cars ahead pitted, but the damaged car gradually saw him fall back down the order.
• Finished a frustrating race in 17th place, just over a second ahead of the driver who caused his damage, Nyck De Vries.

Lando Norris endured another frustrating race weekend, where a combination of McLaren’s underlying lack of pace and an opening-lap incident rendered his efforts largely futile. The McLaren simply wasn’t competitive around the Miami circuit, leaving Norris unable to escape the Q1 trap. His race was effectively ruined at the first corner when he was hit from behind by Nyck De Vries, causing significant damage to his car’s floor. This forced an unscheduled early pit stop and severely compromised his pace for the remainder of the race. Tasked with an extremely long second stint on hard tyres with a damaged car, Norris could do little but watch as competitors easily flew past him. While he out-qualified and out-raced his teammate, the circumstances meant it was a data-gathering exercise rather than a performance-driven result, highlighting a challenging period for McLaren.

Oscar Piastri – 5/10

Qualified: 19th (-3 places behind team mate, +0.09s)
Start: +5 places
Strategy: One-stop (S-H)
Finished: 19th (-2 places behind team mate)

• Was eliminated in Q1, qualifying 19th, less than a tenth of a second slower than his teammate, highlighting the car’s struggles.
• Made an excellent start on soft tyres, gaining an impressive five positions on the opening lap to run in 14th before pitting for hard tyres on Lap 5.
• Suffered from a persistent brake-by-wire problem starting from seven laps in, which significantly compromised his performance for the rest of the race.
• Was subsequently passed by Nyck De Vries and fell further back from the rest of the field, finishing in 19th position, a lap down.

Oscar Piastri’s inaugural Miami Grand Prix experience was far from enjoyable, largely due to McLaren’s inherent lack of pace throughout the weekend. Despite the car’s limitations, Piastri showed flashes of his potential, notably by qualifying very close to his teammate and executing a brilliant opening lap that saw him gain the most positions of any driver. However, his race was severely hampered by a brake-by-wire issue that emerged early on and persisted, making an already challenging scenario even more difficult. He found himself unable to maintain pace with his teammate, particularly as he had to manage his hard tyres for an extended stint with compromised braking. While the result was disappointing, it was primarily a consequence of car performance issues and mechanical failure, rather than any significant error on his part. A weekend to learn from, rather than one to be personally criticized for.

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Valtteri Bottas – 6/10

Qualified: 10th (+4 places ahead of team mate, -0.527s)
Start: +2 places
Strategy: One-stop (M-H)
Finished: 13th (+3 places ahead of team mate)

• Comfortably progressed to Q3 in an impressive seventh place, half a second quicker than his teammate.
• Qualified tenth after being denied the opportunity to complete his single flying lap in Q3 due to an untimely red flag, impacting his potential grid slot.
• Made a strong start, passing both Max Verstappen and Esteban Ocon on the opening lap, but unfortunately lost those positions in the early stages of the race.
• Ran ahead of Nico Hulkenberg in tenth before pitting for hard tyres, which saw him drop to 16th.
• Gained positions during the pit stop cycle but was eventually passed by Lewis Hamilton, settling into 11th.
• Was later overtaken by both Yuki Tsunoda and Lance Stroll, ultimately dropping to 13th position, just ahead of Alexander Albon at the finish.

Valtteri Bottas experienced a decent, if ultimately unrewarding, weekend in Miami. He was undeniably the stronger of the two Alfa Romeo drivers, particularly in qualifying where he showcased impressive pace to easily reach Q3, significantly outperforming his teammate. An unfortunate red flag denied him a final Q3 run, but his initial pace was undeniable. In the race, Bottas started well, making some early gains, but the inherent pace of the Alfa Romeo meant he struggled to maintain those positions. Despite his best efforts and solid early race pace, he gradually slipped down the order, eventually finishing in 13th. This outcome, while not yielding points, more accurately reflected the car’s limitations rather than a deficiency in Bottas’s driving. He maximized what was available, but the package simply wasn’t strong enough for points in a clean race.

Zhou Guanyu – 5/10

Qualified: 14th (-4 places behind team mate, +0.527s)
Start: -2 places
Strategy: One-stop (H-M)
Finished: 16th (-3 places behind team mate)

• Failed to follow his teammate into Q3, attributing his Q2 exit to a lack of slipstream on his final run where he was leading the field.
• Started on hard tyres, dropping two positions on the opening lap and quickly finding himself caught in a DRS train, running close to Yuki Tsunoda.
• Was overtaken by Lance Stroll and slowly fell down the order before eventually pitting for medium tyres on Lap 21, rejoining in 17th.
• Successfully caught and passed Lando Norris for 16th position, where he would ultimately finish, three places and just under seven seconds behind his teammate.

Zhou Guanyu’s Miami Grand Prix weekend was largely defined by a significant qualifying deficit to his teammate and a subsequent race stuck in the midfield DRS train. His decision to start on the hard tyres proved to be suboptimal, as it led to a slow opening stint where he was consistently passed by competitors who had pitted earlier. He openly blamed a lack of slipstream for his Q2 exit, highlighting a strategic misstep in qualifying. By the time he found clear air after his pit stop, it was too late to make substantial progress, despite managing to pass Lando Norris. While he kept the car clean, the overall performance lacked impact and pace compared to Bottas, resulting in a rather forgettable weekend where he struggled to assert himself within the pack.

Lance Stroll – 4/10

Qualified: 18th (-16 places behind team mate, +0.297s)
Start: +1 place
Strategy: One-stop (H-M)
Finished: 12th (-9 places behind team mate)

• Consistently found himself behind his teammate, Fernando Alonso, in every single session of the weekend.
• Incurred a total of €500 in pit lane speeding fines during Free Practice 2, indicating minor lapses in focus.
• Was unexpectedly knocked out in Q1 in 18th position after a risky gamble to remain on used soft tyres for his second run failed to pay off.
• Started on hard tyres and gained one position at the start, but was then unfortunately involved in a clumsy contact at the chicane with Logan Sargeant on the opening lap.
• Struggled to get past Zhou until Lap 19, then ran behind Gasly before making his only stop for mediums, falling to 15th.
• Made some progress on his medium tyres, overtaking Hulkenberg, Albon, and Zhou, but ran out of laps to advance further than 12th.

Lance Stroll delivered a distinctly underwhelming and sub-par performance in Miami, especially considering the competitive prowess of his Aston Martin car. While his Q1 exit was partly attributed to an “over-aggressive” strategy on used tyres, the contrast with his teammate, Fernando Alonso, who comfortably progressed, was stark. Throughout the weekend, Stroll consistently lagged behind Alonso in every session, a worrying trend given the car’s potential. In the race, despite making some progress and keeping his car clean after an initial contact with Sargeant, finishing 12th in what is arguably the second-fastest car on the grid is simply not good enough. Given the machinery at his disposal, a top-ten finish should have been the bare minimum expectation. This performance raises questions about his ability to consistently extract the car’s full potential, especially when compared to his veteran teammate.

Fernando Alonso – 8/10

Qualified: 2nd (+16 places ahead of team mate, -0.297s)
Start: Held position
Strategy: One-stop (M-H)
Finished: 3rd (+9 places ahead of team mate)

• Demonstrated clear superiority over his teammate, consistently leading him in every session.
• Effortlessly reached Q3 in third place, then secured an incredible second position on the grid despite his first Q3 run being on used tyres, further highlighting his exceptional skill and the impact of the red flag.
• Maintained second place at the start, expertly fending off Carlos Sainz in the opening laps until the relentless charge of Max Verstappen finally saw him passed.
• Pitted later than his direct rivals for hard tyres, temporarily falling behind Sainz, but then executed a clinical overtake into Turn 11 to reclaim third place with ease.
• Comfortably pulled away from the Ferrari, enjoying a “lonely” final stint, cruising to secure his fourth podium finish of the season.

Fernando Alonso once again showcased why he is widely considered one of Formula 1’s all-time greats, extracting every ounce of performance from his Aston Martin to secure a phenomenal result in Miami. Finishing behind only the dominant Red Bulls was, for all intents and purposes, a victory for Alonso, and his entire weekend was utterly faultless. He consistently outpaced his teammate by a significant margin in every session, demonstrating an unparalleled ability to adapt to the circuit. His second-place start, achieved despite being on used tyres for his crucial Q3 lap, was a masterstroke of qualifying strategy and raw talent. In the race, he drove with precision, defending robustly before executing a decisive overtake on Sainz after his pit stop. His “lonely” final stint underscored his comfortable hold on third place, sealing his fourth podium of the season. A truly exemplary performance that maximizes the car’s potential and keeps him firmly in the championship conversation for ‘best of the rest’.

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Kevin Magnussen – 6/10

Qualified: 4th (+8 places ahead of team mate, -0.23s)
Start: -3 places
Strategy: One-stop (M-H)
Finished: 10th (+5 places ahead of team mate)

• Was investigated for impeding Hamilton in Q1 but was subsequently cleared of any wrongdoing by the stewards.
• Reached Q3 in ninth place, then dramatically secured fourth on the grid with a strong first flying lap, benefiting greatly from the late red flag.
• Dropped three positions on the opening lap, then immediately engaged in a spirited battle with Charles Leclerc for seventh.
• Pitted relatively early for hard tyres, rejoining in 16th, and then steadily gained positions as rivals completed their pit stops.
• Successfully overtook Zhou, then came under sustained pressure from Leclerc, enduring a multi-lap battle before eventually being passed.
• Was later passed by Lewis Hamilton and Esteban Ocon, dropping to tenth but crucially held on to secure the final point by a narrow 1.3-second margin.

Kevin Magnussen’s Miami Grand Prix weekend was a tale of two halves, starting with a surprisingly strong qualifying performance that culminated in an incredible second-row start. Despite appearing slower than his teammate during practice, Magnussen delivered when it truly mattered, benefiting from the red flag in Q3 but only after laying down an impressive initial lap. His race, however, was more challenging. A poor start saw him drop three places immediately, and while he engaged in a commendable multi-lap battle with Charles Leclerc, his overall race pace wasn’t strong enough to maintain a higher position. Nevertheless, his tenacious defense and ability to hold on to the final point by a mere 1.3 seconds against strong competition was a testament to his grit. A well-deserved point, balancing a stellar qualifying with a more challenging race.

Nico Hulkenberg – 4/10

Qualified: 12th (-8 places behind team mate, +0.23s)
Start: +1 place
Strategy: One-stop (H-M)
Finished: 15th (-5 places behind team mate)

• Suffered an early setback by crashing into the wall at Turn 3 during Free Practice 1, impacting his rhythm.
• Was eliminated in Q2, unable to set a competitive second lap with fresh tyres due to heavy traffic on his out-lap, compromising his grid position.
• Started on hard tyres, gaining 11th from Albon at the start, then ran closely between Bottas and Albon in the early stages.
• Ran as high as fifth during the pit stop cycle before being passed by faster cars on fresher tyres, then stopped for mediums, falling to 16th.
• Overtook Lando Norris and gained 14th when Stroll pitted but was soon overtaken himself.
• Caught up to Alexander Albon but was unable to find a way past the Williams, ultimately finishing in a disappointing 15th.

Nico Hulkenberg’s Miami Grand Prix weekend started with promise, despite an early FP1 crash due to the challenging low-grip surface. He showed flashes of top-ten potential in practice, suggesting a strong qualifying was possible. However, he failed to replicate his teammate Magnussen’s Q3 heroics, primarily due to traffic impacting his crucial Q2 run. This left him in a compromised grid position. In the race, Hulkenberg struggled with inconsistent pace and found himself caught in the dreaded midfield DRS train, making progress difficult. Despite running a long first stint on hard tyres, he couldn’t convert it into a strong result. The fact that he was unable to pass Alexander Albon’s Williams in the closing stages, finishing behind him, is a clear indicator of an underwhelming race performance, particularly when contrasted with Magnussen’s point-scoring finish. A weekend that ultimately failed to deliver on its early potential.

Yuki Tsunoda – 6/10

Qualified: 17th (-2 places behind team mate, +0.104s)
Start: +2 places
Strategy: One-stop (H-M)
Finished: 11th (+7 places ahead of team mate)

• Narrowly missed out on Q2 by just a tenth of a second, leaving him in a disappointing 17th position on the grid.
• Started on hard tyres, immediately gaining two places from the first-corner collision between De Vries and Norris, then another when Piastri pitted.
• Executed a precise overtake on Alexander Albon, then pitted from eighth place for medium tyres, rejoining the race in 14th.
• Demonstrated strong race pace and excellent racecraft, passing Albon for a second time, and then Bottas, to move into 11th.
• Finished an agonizingly close 1.3 seconds away from the final point-scoring position, adding to his collection of 11th-place finishes.

Yuki Tsunoda added another 11th-place finish to his growing collection in Miami, marking his third such result of the year. While he had consistently shown more pace than his teammate Nyck De Vries throughout practice, he frustratingly failed to maximize his qualifying, ending up out in Q1. However, his race performance was a display of maturity and impressive racecraft. Starting on the hard tyres, he capitalized on early incidents and then systematically worked his way up the order with some well-executed and aggressive passing moves. To come so agonizingly close to a point, yet again, highlights both his consistent effort and the AlphaTauri’s struggle to break into the top ten on pure pace. Despite the lack of points, Tsunoda could be genuinely proud of his afternoon’s work, extracting maximum performance from his package.

Nyck de Vries – 4/10

Qualified: 15th (+2 places ahead of team mate, -0.104s)
Start: -5 places
Strategy: One-stop (M-H)
Finished: 18th (-7 places behind team mate)

• Consistently ranked no higher than 19th across all three free practice sessions, indicating a struggle for pace.
• Despite his practice struggles, he surprisingly advanced to Q2, unlike his teammate, though he was the slowest in that session, qualifying 15th.
• Lost a position off the line to Lando Norris, then locked up and collided with the McLaren at Turn 1, causing damage and dropping him to last place.
• Managed minor damage from the early clash until his pit stop for hard tyres, which saw him fall further down to 19th.
• Eventually caught and passed fellow F2 champion Oscar Piastri for 18th position, where he would ultimately finish the race.

Nyck De Vries endured yet another underwhelming race weekend in Miami, one that was primarily defined by an early race incident. While he managed to avoid the walls on an unfamiliar circuit this time and surprisingly out-qualified his teammate by reaching Q2, any positive momentum was swiftly undone at Turn 1. His clumsy collision with Lando Norris, fortunately not investigated by the stewards, caused damage to both cars and sent De Vries to the very back of the field. This incident effectively ended any realistic chance of a respectable finish. Although he salvaged a small positive by catching and passing Oscar Piastri, his performance continues to highlight a struggle to deliver consistent, clean, and competitive drives in Formula 1. More is expected from the experienced rookie.

Alexander Albon – 6/10

Qualified: 11th (+9 places ahead of team mate, -0.343s)
Start: -1 place
Strategy: One-stop (M-H)
Finished: 14th (+6 places ahead of team mate)

• Consistently outpaced his teammate, Logan Sargeant, in every single session throughout the weekend.
• Advanced to Q2, unlike Sargeant, and was narrowly eliminated in 11th, missing Q3 by a mere half-tenth of a second, an impressive feat for the Williams.
• Dropped one place at the start to run in 12th, then pitted for hard tyres, which saw him fall to 17th.
• Successfully overtook Lando Norris and gained positions as rivals completed their pit stops, moving up to 12th.
• Was unfortunately passed by both Yuki Tsunoda and Lance Stroll in the closing laps, ultimately finishing in 14th position.

Alexander Albon had another solid, professional weekend in Miami, once again demonstrating his ability to extract the absolute maximum from the Williams FW45. His qualifying performance was particularly impressive, coming agonizingly close to a Q3 appearance, an extraordinary achievement for the machinery he has at his disposal. In a race devoid of retirements, the Williams simply lacked the inherent pace to truly challenge for points, a testament to the car’s limitations rather than Albon’s driving. Despite this, he drove a clean and strategic race, navigating the midfield battles effectively. While he eventually slipped to 14th after being overtaken by Tsunoda and Stroll in the closing laps, he finished ahead of cars that arguably should have outpaced him. Albon was unequivocally the stronger of the two Williams drivers, deserving immense credit for consistently punching above his car’s weight.

Logan Sargeant – 4/10

Qualified: 20th (-9 places behind team mate, +0.343s)
Start: +2 places
Strategy: One-stop (M-H)
Finished: 20th (-6 places behind team mate)

• Consistently ranked behind his teammate, Alexander Albon, in every single session of the weekend.
• Was eliminated as the slowest in Q1, failing to advance to the second stage of qualifying, highlighting a lack of pace and experience.
• Gained two positions at the start, capitalizing on the collision between Nyck De Vries and Lando Norris at Turn 1.
• Was involved in a clumsy contact with Lance Stroll at the chicane on the opening lap, resulting in significant front wing endplate damage.
• Pitted early on Lap 2 for a new front wing and hard tyres, effectively ending any chance of a competitive race.
• Ran the remainder of the race on his hard tyres, staying at the very rear of the field and ultimately finishing last, one lap down.

Tragically, Logan Sargeant’s inaugural home Grand Prix in Florida was a deeply disappointing affair, marked by both a lack of qualifying pace and a crucial early race incident. He consistently struggled to match his teammate Albon’s pace, failing to make it out of Q1 after not optimizing his tyre usage. His race took a decisive turn for the worse on the opening lap when he clumsily collided with Lance Stroll at the chicane, necessitating an immediate front wing change. His heartfelt apology over the team radio clearly demonstrated his immediate awareness of the mistake. Without the intervention of a Safety Car, Sargeant was left with no real opportunity to recover, spending the rest of the race circulating at the back, a lap down. A tough learning experience for the rookie, underscoring the steep learning curve in Formula 1.

Over to you

Now that you’ve read our comprehensive driver ratings, we want to hear from you! Which driver’s performance truly impressed you the most during the Miami Grand Prix weekend? Did our ratings align with your observations, or do you have a different perspective on who deserves top marks?

Cast your vote for the driver who stood out above the rest and join the discussion with fellow RaceFans to see if your choice aligns with the broader consensus. Your opinion matters!

• Vote for your 2023 Miami Grand Prix Driver of the Weekend

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