Miami Grand Prix: pre-stage comments

Oracle Red Bull Racing

Max Verstappen: “The Miami circuit has always been one of the most physically challenging, considering the heat and humidity, but we are up for the challenge this weekend. It’s an interesting track with a mix of different types of corners and long straights, so it’s crucial to learn as much as you can about the car’s behavior over the course of the weekend. The circuit is great for racing thanks to the high-speed sections, so the second sprint in a row will be interesting.

The team usually does a lot of off-court activities this weekend, which I have many fond memories of. Miami never disappoints and the fans create a great atmosphere.

I’m looking forward to racing with a specially designed helmet for the American races. The design reflects the fans’ passion for the sport.”

Sergio Perez: “We’re going back to Miami – it’s always great to come to Florida. I feel at home here and the fans from Latin America support me immensely. I feel all their love when I perform in Miami. I have prepared a special helmet design for this weekend in honor of the countries that support me the most. You may be surprised by the image of an alligator, but it is a reference to Florida!

I hope we can do well on track this weekend. Our car used to be fast here. There is still a sprint stage ahead, which makes it difficult to find the ideal conditions, but we learned a lot from the China stage about how to make the most of our time.

Another warm weekend is expected in Miami, during which it will be physically demanding for the racers. We will try to overcome all difficulties and emerge victorious.”

Scuderia Ferrari

Frederik Vasseur, team leader: “Another stage lies ahead in the form of a race weekend with a sprint. In China we had some problems, but in Miami the circuit is of a completely different type and we can rely on the data collected over the last two seasons.

We expect to perform better than in Shanghai, and I believe the team has the potential to do this, especially as we are not so much behind the championship leaders.

This weekend it will once again be very important to get the most out of the only practice session to be as well prepared as possible for qualifying, where we had more problems than normal in the previous stage.

The team is in for a special weekend as it will be the first weekend for our new title sponsor, HP. We will do our best to get the collaboration off to the best possible start.”

McLaren Formula 1 team

Andrea Stellateam manager: “After showing good speed in China, we head to the street circuit in Miami – our first American stage of the season.

We’ll have another sprint stage on Saturday, which, combined with the difficult nature of the track and the warm weather, will bring its own problems. But we are ready to tackle them.”

Lando Norris: “I’m looking forward to returning to Miami. This is the first American round of the season, where the fans always create an incredible atmosphere.

We had a good race in China, where I was on the podium for the second time this year. I celebrated with the team at the base, where the engineers and I analyzed the data ahead of Miami. The weekend will be difficult, but we will do our best. Come on!”

Oscar Piastri: “With the Miami round coming up, I’m looking forward to racing on American soil for the first time this season. This is my second time at this track, but the atmosphere last year was great and I want to experience it again.

I’m wearing a new helmet in the classic Miami colors. I think it looks really cool!”

Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula 1 team

Toto Wolff: “We are ready for Miami, for the first race in the US this year. A difficult circuit awaits us and the second weekend of the season with the sprint on Saturday will be another interesting test for the team.

We didn’t perform well in China and made too many changes to the set-up before qualifying. This put us behind for the rest of the weekend, although both drivers did well and finished in the top ten.

In Miami we will try to optimize the car and show better results. We know we have to improve and this weekend we will try out some new products.”

Aston Martin Aramco Formula 1 team

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Visa Cash App RB Formula 1 Team

Daniel Ricciardo: “The team has made progress in China, although the results of the Shanghai race do not reflect this. The car has a high speed and I am confident that this will remain the case in the coming stage.

Of course, a difficult weekend awaits me, given the penalty of losing three positions at the start, but we will fight for the points. It’s no secret that I enjoy spending time in the United States, so I’m looking forward to getting back on the track in Miami. I’ve only performed here once, but I’m happy to be back.

Physically speaking, we have a difficult race ahead of us due to the heat. Racing in America is always fun because the organizers organize a big show in addition to a race. When I think of Miami, three things come to mind: heat, humidity and the stadium.

At this stage the fans are charging us with a lot of energy. “It’s also wonderful to be close to the beach, because during a race weekend you don’t often have to swim in the sea.”

Yuki Tsunoda: “The stage in China was not the best for us, although the car had potential. I’m looking forward to this weekend because I think we’ll come back stronger.

There’s always a great atmosphere in Miami and I have fond memories of my two previous races here, so I’m looking forward to getting back on track. We still have a sprint stage ahead of us, which will only complicate the task, but we aim to earn points in both races, with a particular focus on Sunday.

I always love to try local cuisine, and I want to try something special in Miami – the more the merrier!”

MoneyGram Haas F1 Team

Nico Hulkenberg: “I really love Miami – the city, the culture, the atmosphere and of course the Formula 1 race. It is a cool and unique city circuit with many overtaking opportunities. Things move quickly during a sprint weekend, but in China we showed that we are competitive in this format.

Haas is looking forward to the first of three home rounds of the season and we are in good form at the moment. The team will fight for points when the opportunity arises and I hope we can demonstrate our capabilities in front of our American partners and fans.”

Kevin Magnussen: “The race in Miami is important for us – the first of three at home. A great stage on a great circuit. Personally, I like the racing circuit, which combines urban and stationary circuits with high speeds. One of the best race weekends of the season awaits us and I hope the car will perform even better this year.

The Miami circuit is great for battling – there’s a very long straight that ends in a hairpin, followed by the main straight. As a result, the battle continues in the DRS zone before the first corner.

Because Haas is an American team with many American sponsors, we are looking forward to a busy race in the US. I’m looking forward to the whole race week.”

Williams Racing

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Enter F1 Team Kick Sauber

Valtteri Bottas: “I’m very happy that we will be racing again in Miami – at a track that I like, and in the past I have been able to show good results there.

Although the previous weekend did not go as we had planned, the new sprint format suited me and the team very well. On Saturday my partner and I came close to earning points, and overall we are moving in the right direction.

If we continue to progress at this pace, I hope we can challenge for the points again, and I don’t rule out that we will have better luck this time. This weekend we have the chance to earn something twice, and if we do well in all sessions, we will succeed.

When the competition is so fierce that even minimal improvements or small mistakes can have a noticeable impact on the results, it is important to make the most of every opportunity. At the same time, we know that our rivals are also working hard and striving to increase the speed of their cars.

Our entire team is focused on fighting for the points and we hope we don’t return from Miami empty-handed.”

Guanyu Zhou: “The previous race left great memories. That weekend we were received very warmly, we felt universal love, and such an impression is unlikely to be repeated anywhere else. But we will try to use the energy we received in China in the next phase of the season.

I’m looking forward to the race in Miami; this city has a very lively atmosphere and the circuit there is difficult and interesting at the same time. Recently I did some pretty good work on the simulator at the Hinwil base in preparation for the upcoming race.

In the last few stages we notice positive changes in the operation of the machine, this applies to both efficiency and pace. It appears that the technical updates implemented by the team have worked as expected.

In the previous sprint round we were close to scoring points, so I am once again determined to do my best in both races of the weekend to fight for the points with the team.”

BWT Alpine F1 team

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