F1 must thank Charles Leclerc for the 2023 Miami GP - Race Review

First things first, thank you, Charles Leclerc.

But, why?

The 2023 Miami Grand Prix saw on-track excitement due to two key reasons. First, drivers being out of place (thanks to Charles Leclerc's crash and subsequent Red Flag in Q3 of Qualifying). Second, the different tyre strategies that the out-of-place drivers had to use in the race.

Could it have been a snooze fest had it not been for LEC's Q3 crash?

In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah review the 2023 Miami Grand Prix - the overtakes, the tyre strategies, and of course, the driver presentations. @f1statsguru aka Sundaram shares his stats review from the race.

(Season 2023, Episode 20)

Follow our hosts on Twitter: Soumil Arora, @f1statsguru and Kunal Shah

Image courtesy: Ferrari

# Inside Line F1 Podcast - Episode 20: The Miami Grand Prix Review

## Episode Summary:

- The Miami Grand Prix was a spectacle, with over-the-top driver introductions, a conductor, and personalized jerseys for the top three finishers.

- The race had plenty of overtaking, thanks to the mixed-up grid caused by Charles Leclerc's crash in qualifying.

- The hard-medium tire strategy was the correct one, with drivers who started on the hard gaining the most positions.

- Max Verstappen had a dominant performance, winning by 33 seconds and overtaking multiple cars with ease.

- George Russell had a strong race, finishing fourth and overtaking Pierre Gasly after being instructed to do so by his race engineer.

- Mercedes is claiming that the Imola upgrade will fix the "poisonous" W14, which has been hindering Lewis Hamilton's performance.

## Key Points:

- The Miami GP was a spectacle, with over-the-top driver introductions, a conductor, and personalized jerseys for the top three finishers.

- The race had plenty of overtaking, thanks to the mixed-up grid caused by Charles Leclerc's crash in qualifying.

- The hard-medium tire strategy was the correct one, with drivers who started on the hard gaining the most positions.

- Max Verstappen had a dominant performance, winning by 33 seconds and overtaking multiple cars with ease.

- George Russell had a strong race, finishing fourth and overtaking Pierre Gasly after being instructed to do so by his race engineer.

- Mercedes is claiming that the Imola upgrade will fix the "poisonous" W14, which has been hindering Lewis Hamilton's performance.

## Additional Notes:

- The podcast hosts, Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah, discuss the race in detail, providing insights and analysis.

- They also discuss the upcoming Imola Grand Prix and the potential impact of the Mercedes upgrade.

- The podcast is informative and engaging, providing a comprehensive review of the Miami Grand Prix. # Inside Line F1 Podcast Episode 20: Review of the 2023 Miami Grand Prix

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## Key Points:

- Charles Leclerc's qualifying crash and subsequent red flag, along with varying tire strategies, contributed to the excitement of the 2023 Miami Grand Prix.

- Despite the on-track drama, some believe the race could have been dull without Leclerc's Q3 incident.

- F1 Stats Guru provides insightful statistics from the race, including Max Verstappen's entry into an exclusive club of drivers who have won from P9 and Red Bull's potential to secure both titles this season.

- Fernando Alonso's podium finish marks the first time a team other than Red Bull, Mercedes, or Ferrari has achieved this feat in the United States.

- Pierre Gasly's eighth-place finish after starting fourth earns him points on US soil for the first time after five attempts.

- Fernando Alonso's impressive mental capabilities and ability to multitask while driving are highlighted, with examples from his commentary on Lance Stroll's moves during the race.

- Aston Martin's strategic error in not providing Lance Stroll with fresh tires for Q1 led to his elimination, despite Alonso's success with the same strategy.

- The battle for P2 intensifies with Aston Martin closing the gap to Mercedes, creating a three-way fight for the position.

- McLaren's struggles continue with both drivers failing to score points in Miami, despite an upcoming upgrade.

- Ferrari's tire degradation issues hinder their performance in the race, despite strong qualifying results.

- Bob Varsha, the voice of Formula 1 in America, will be a guest on the next episode to share his experiences and insights from the Miami GP.

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## Overall Message:

The 2023 Miami Grand Prix featured exciting moments due to unexpected circumstances, but the overall racing action may have lacked without them. Statistical analysis reveals interesting trends and records achieved during the race. Fernando Alonso's exceptional skills and Aston Martin's strategic error are discussed, along with the tightening battle for P2 and McLaren's ongoing challenges. Ferrari's tire degradation issues are noted, and the upcoming appearance of Bob Varsha on the podcast is teased.