STAT CORNER: Verstappen is the most successful in Miami

Having grabbed pole position in yesterday's qualifying session at the Miami Grand Prix, four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen is looking forward to add another victory to his tally at the Miami International Autodrome where has has been the most successful driver so far.

Max Verstappen and Red Bull won the first two editions of this race, in 2022 and 2023. The Dutchman was on course to take his third consecutive victory last season, but a safety car period meant that Lando Norris was handed a big opportunity to secure his maiden Formula 1, and the Briton did not fail to deliver.

It means that Verstappen is the most successful driver with two victories while Norris has one win in Miami.

Each year has seen a different driver take pole position: Charles Leclerc and Ferrari in the inaugural edition, followed by Sergio Perez (Red Bull) in 2023, with his former team-mate Verstappen securing the number one slot last year. Thanks to his record-breaking lap yesterday, the reigning champion became the most successful driver in Miami in terms of pole positions as well.

So far, the quickest driver in qualifying has never won the race, but has always finished second. Apart from the four aforementioned drivers, only two others, the Spaniards Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz, have made it to the podium, both in third place.

This year’s Miami Grand Prix will be the 80th round of the Drivers’ Formula 1 World Championship to have been held in the United States of America, since its inception in 1950. The USA thus moves ahead of Germany and Great Britain to take second place on the list of countries to have hosted the most Grands Prix, leaving Italy out in front on 107.

To date, eleven venues have hosted these races: Austin (12 Grands Prix,) Dallas (1), Detroit (7), Indianapolis (19), Las Vegas (4), Long Beach (8), Miami (3), Phoenix (3), Riverside (1), Sebring (1) and Watkins Glen (20).

The two drivers with the most USA wins will be racing this weekend in Miami and they are Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen with six victories apiece. As for the teams, thanks to Leclerc’s win in Austin last year, Ferrari is now the most successful team in the USA with 14 wins to its name.