Max Verstappen rocks F1 lovers at Miami Hard Rock Stadium

It is not about just his car being superior, that's jack-sh*t if anyone tells you.

Max Verstappen rocks F1 lovers at Miami Hard Rock Stadium

Image credit: Getty Images

The Red Bull ‘can’, the common man consumes, is loaded with sugar and high carbohydrates. It’s good, if you really need it, as an energy booster, provided you do not have health issues. The Red Bull which does not pose health risks is the RB 19 speed demon, as one witnessed in the Miami Formula One Grand Prix on Sunday in the United States of America.

F1 is all about drama and excitement. The sport is trying to innovate, for right and wrong reasons. There has been no dearth in its popularity, as it is extremely elite and classy. Yet, if one thought a change in the script was going to happen in the 2023 season and positions in qualifying would determine the winner, fans were proved wrong.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8b4DhV1yxY

One man who has become synonymous with fame and fortune, pace but not blase, is Max Verstappen. Boy, what a drive the magician conjured up once again. From a starting position of ninth on the grid, known as P9 to F1 junkies, he showed cunning and cool to finish winner. The checkered flag was his at a venue where the crème de la crème was present, lapping up the thrills.

For all those who thought motorsports in the United States of America is about NASCAR and Indy, the horsepower being generated by Formula One has been sensational. Marketing gimmick, post-Bernie Ecclestone era perhaps, a change in viewership, converting to F1, all these raise questions. Make no mistake, this sport is about green bags (dollars), sponsorship, and commercial deals.

Amidst all this, one man showed what a big deal he is, Max Verstappen. From the ninth position to race ahead in a robust field and beat his teammate as well, Sergio Perez, this was maximizing thrust. These RB 19 beasts are really hungry. They eat up laps on the tarmac spread over 5.4km with 19 corners like flames consume fuel. Max is no fluke. He is a marvel, a magician.

It is not about just his car being superior, that’s jack-sh*t if anyone tells you. Maybe, Max puts some to sleep with his dominance. But to the knowledgeable and discerning, Max showed some rare qualities, again. He is cool. Even cucumbers in a fridge will fail in front of him.

The guy has racing genes, that adrenaline rush, and yet that common sense to believe in himself. When he did badly, as per his own lofty standards, he was honest in admitting it. Yet, when he changed gears, oops tires, in lap 46, he surprised a few. Max went for hard tires, then came up with stuff that blew your mind.

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Super Max delivered on his hunting ground

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Image credit: Getty Images

There is a difference in various cars on the grid. The Mercedes has a bad package and old man Fernando Alonso, 41, in Aston Martin, still has plenty of gas left in him. He was third, on the podium, even though if you look at the timing sheets, he was much slower than Max. Cannot blame him, really. The fact the former world champion still goes full throttle is a message for seven-time former world champion Lewis Hamilton.

Ham, this man is a moan. He cries his car is a bad package. Ham cries, cringes, gives you that yucky feeling when he comes onto the red carpet of sorts for the Miami race in plastic. Jeez, ugly in so many ways. The worst part, he cannot digest defeat. You are as good at the wheel as your car, Ok, agreed. Damnit, this Briton makes a song and dance about everything. He is a serial offender and wants earrings, nose rings, and all kinds of jewelry. Parade all that away from the F1 circuit, respect the sanctity of the sport, Sir Lewis.

Hamilton can crib, weep, fact is his best is behind. He can take up a role as an activist, fight for LGBTQ, be part of the rainbow colors, and all that crap. All that is not going to help him beat Max Verstappen. To describe how Max raced on Sunday will be hard. For, watching Max is an emotion, a romance of how man and machine maximize it. That’s why is he ahead in the title race, though a lot more drama is in store this season.

Frankly speaking, Miami has been Max Verstappen’s hunting ground. Before the race, all the showbiz stuff was on. Roger Federer came, got to feel the high adrenaline when he went on a “hot lap” in a Mercedes car in the passenger seat, with helmet on, before the F1 race. His facial expressions after the lap suggested he was more than happy to come out alive, a bit like an emerging winner in a five-setter on grass or hard courts of tennis!

Then you had the American sports rock stars from the NFL plus the Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, in order of age. This was a mini “Met Gala” in itself, where sport and Hollywood fused. The best from the F1, past and present, were also there. In such an ambiance, which was high octane, one man stole the show, Max Verstappen.

Most importantly, the USA has embraced Formula One. They are going to host two more races this season. For F1 junkies who are anti-Max, Sunday night in Miami was sad. For those who love Red Bull, this was one helluva ride that Max undertook. People talk of the car being a good package. Here, Christian Horner does the packaging for the RB beasts. And the man who pops it, like RB cans being popped for the fizz to rise, is hungry Max Verstappen. He lapped up all the attention!

Love him or hate him? For the record, the name of the place in Miami is Hard Rock Stadium. Max rocked, once again.

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