Max Verstappen is back in the race to defend his title.

At the first Miami Grand Prix, the number one drives his second win in a row ahead of championship leader Charles Leclerc and the second Ferrari of Carlos Sainz jr.

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In the overall standings, the Monegasque is still 19 points ahead of the Dutchman.

Shortly before the longed-for first point, Mick Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel collide.

The lavish convoy driving, completely contrary to the general density of Miami traffic, is over in the last quarter of a rippling race.

Lando Norris, who loses control of his McLaren on the straight after colliding with Pierre Gasly, ensures a neutralization.

This plays into the hands of everyone who hasn't been in the box yet.

Especially George Russell in the second Mercedes, who started twelfth and is suddenly seventh.

And Mick Schumacher is suddenly ninth.

Exciting finale

Eleven laps before the end, the race is free again, with small gaps.

This is what Miami has been waiting for: drama, baby!

Max Verstappen suddenly has both Ferraris very close behind him again, Perez lurks behind him with fresh tires.

Lewis Hamilton is about to pass his current teammate George Russell and the old one, Valtteri Bottas.

Charles Leclerc immediately sits on Verstappen's neck after the DRS system in the rear wing can be activated.

Everyone perks up, Russell reclaims his seat.

A single action flick with a spectacularly sad ending for the two Germans.

Mick Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel collide while overtaking.

Both would have been in the points and both claim turn one for themselves.

The race stewards are investigating.

Everything stays good at the front – and with the old, Verstappen celebrates the third victory in the fifth race.

Title favorites among themselves

The front row all in red, which has not existed for two and a half years, is history in the so-called Miami International Autodrome, the 5.4-kilometer parking lot course around the Miami Dolphins football stadium.

In the very first chicane, Max Verstappen passed Carlos Sainz on the outside, while the Spaniard would have had the noble task of keeping leader Charles Leclerc's back free in the Ferrari.

So the two title favorites are among themselves again.

With different requirements of their company car.

The Italians rely on a new rear wing, while Verstappen is missing almost the entire first day of practice after the engine of his Red Bull racing car overheated.

The defending champion, who has been handicapped several times this year, publicly criticized his team: "We mustn't always make life difficult for ourselves!" The only thing left to him is his own ease.

With an air temperature of 31 degrees and 46 on the asphalt, keeping a cool head is the most important task for all pilots.

The starting line-up for the only new race this season is even more heated – more celebrities than ever before plus an increased number of bodyguards.

Only the two green racing cars are missing from the show, Aston Martin had cooled the fuel in the cars more deeply than the regulations allow.

The engine has to warm up in the garage, Lance Stroll and Sebastian Vettel have to start from the pit lane, places ten and 13 are gone.