Passing both Ferraris on pace alone, Jolyon Palmer says Ferrari should be worried after Max Verstappen’s Miami Grand Prix win.
The Red Bull driver had to come from behind to win at the Miami International Autodrome, the Dutchman starting P3 behind both Ferraris.
He made short work of Carlos Sainz, passing him at Turn 2 in a move in which Palmer has questioned whether the Spaniard should have done more to keep Verstappen behind him.
He wrote in his latest F1.com column: “The worry for Ferrari at the moment though must be the manner with which Verstappen is able to beat them, even when he starts behind both cars, and on a Miami circuit which the majority of the other drivers found tricky to overtake on without a significant tyre offset.
“Verstappen didn’t rely on team tactics or strategy for the win either, he outmuscled Sainz at the first corner to immediately split the Ferraris. Sainz was a bit hampered by his inside line and being boxed in by Leclerc at the apex, but could he have been a bit more aggressive in squeezing Verstappen before the braking zone?
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“This move was essential for Verstappen’s win. A front row lock out is such a dangerous advantage for a team because it gives them the strategic options to cover off the nearest threat in the pit stop phase.”
With Sainz out of the way, Verstappen set about drawing closer to Leclerc and, on lap 9, he made his move through Turn 1 to take the lead.
Palmer reckons Leclerc’s defending was even worse than Sainz’s.
“At the end of Lap 8 Verstappen was within DRS range of Leclerc, in a Red Bull that is quick on the straights, the pressure was beginning to mount on Leclerc who was just showing signs of struggling with his front tyres,” he said.
“Leclerc immediately cracked, running wide at Turn 17 as soon as Verstappen loomed large in the Ferrari’s mirrors. This…
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