Formula 1: Miami Grand Prix predictions & tips with 7/1 RAB!

The glitz, glamour and fake marinas of the Miami International Autodrome provide the backdrop for round five of the 2023 Formula 1 championship with Red Bull strong favourites to maintain their grip on the season.

Sergio Perez lead home Red Bull’s third one-two of the season in Azerbaijan last weekend to trim Max Verstappen’s lead in the drivers’ standings to six points.

The Dutchman cut a frustrated figure after the race and he features heavily amongst our tips for the weekend with a view to the world champion putting down a marker in Miami.

All of these tips are priced up with bet365 and SkyBet, where new customers can sign up below to receive up free bets to use on this weekend’s sporting action.

Miami Grand Prix track guide

Debut season – 2022

Track length –  5.412km

Number of turns – 19

Most wins – Max Verstappen (1)

Most poles –  Charles Leclerc (1)

2022 winner – Max Verstappen

The Miami Grand Prix made its debut on the Formula 1 calendar last year with the purpose-built street circuit constructed around Hard Rock Stadium, home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.

Drivers will hit a top speed of 320km/h as they barrel around a track that features a nice mix of high and low speed corners and elevation changes.

The inaugural race did have a few teething problems, most notably the circuit surface, which was much maligned by the drivers for a lack of grip. The track has been resurfaced for F1’s return, with organisers hoping that will lead to more overtaking, despite last year’s race featuring an impressive 45 passes.

Miami Grand Prix predictions & tips

Max Verstappen race winner and fastest lap – 11/10 bet365

Verstappen bemoaned the timing of the safety car for him missing out on his third win of the season in Azerbaijan and arrives in Miami with a chip on his shoulder. 

That is ominous for the rest of the grid, who show no signs of trimming Red Bull’s advantage with Verstappen and Perez going a second a lap quicker than third-placed Leclerc at times in Baku when battling for the lead. 

Perez has had his confidence boosted by two wins in the first four races, both at street circuits and has been vocal about his belief in being able to challenge Verstappen for the title.

That’s not likely to sit well with Verstappen, who won well in Miami last year and also set the fastest lap of the race, and a statement performance is expected by the Dutchman.

Charles Leclerc fastest qualifier – 11/5 bet365

Ferrari enjoyed their best weekend of the year in Azerbaijan with Charles Leclerc collecting 22 points after taking pole position for both the sprint race and Grand Prix.

Those drives were made all the more impressive given the Scuderia hadn’t made major changes to the SF-23, with the first round of upgrades set to be introduced this weekend.

Barring any mechanical mishaps, which is always a worry with Ferrari, Leclerc should be in contention for back-to-back pole positions. 

The 25-year-old has a strong record of being the fastest qualifier at street circuits with nine of his 19 career poles coming at tracks of this type, including in Miami last year.

Leclerc & Verstappen Podium, Perez Top 6 Finish, Alonso, Gasly, Norris & Sainz Points Finish – 7/1

A repeat of last year’s Miami Grand Prix, when Leclerc started from pole but eventually fell to Verstappen, feels likely. 

Leclerc might not take the chequered flag but his Ferrari should prove quick enough to finish best of the rest on the grid having held off the Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso in Baku well. 

Whether Carlos Sainz can help his Ferrari team mate in any fight with Aston and Mercedes remains to be seen after the Spaniard’s revelations that he expects to be off the pace once again in Miami. Still, Sainz should comfortably finish in the points for the fourth time in five races.

It would be a major shock if Alonso isn’t battling for a fourth podium of the season in Miami, while McLaren appear to have put their dreadful start to the year behind them. Lando Norris has scored points in the last two races and despite his concerns about the car’s straight-line speed, he can bag again.

Perhaps the big risk in this 10/1 Sky Bet RAB is Pierre Gasly getting in the top 10. Alpine have had a torrid couple of races in Australia and Azerbaijan, but when the car is working, they’ve proven to be capable of challenging the likes of Mercedes.

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