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Verstappen expects tough Miami F1 race with McLaren's better tyre management

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Verstappen expects tough Miami F1 race with McLaren's better tyre management


Red Bull driver Max Verstappen is bracing for a difficult Miami Grand Prix despite defeating his McLaren Formula 1 rival Lando Norris to pole position.

Verstappen took his third pole of the season at the Miami International Autodrome on Saturday, defeating Norris by 0.065s and Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli by 0.067s in a thrilling qualifying session – with the second McLaren of Oscar Piastri in fourth.

Previously, Verstappen expertly used his track position at Suzuka to convert a pole into a hard-fought win, while in Saudi Arabia he was penalised for leaving the track at Turns 1-2 to keep Piastri behind, which likely ended up costing him another pole to flag win.

Miami’s 57-lap race is expected to be another one-stop contest which limits strategic options, but with a powerful DRS zone on the back straight, overtaking is not impossible either.

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However, Verstappen felt Saturday’s wet-to-dry sprint race showed McLaren’s superior tyre management will still be an important factor, with both Piastri and Norris driving away from the world champion on the intermediates as the track dried up, reminiscent of a similar situation in the Melbourne season-opener. 

“I think that overall they are better in the race,” Verstappen told Dutch media including Motorsport.com. “You saw that on intermediates in the rain as well. As soon as those tyres start to overheat, they have a huge advantage. So, then we are all doing something wrong with the tyres, apart from McLaren.

Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

“What I saw today in the rain was not so great, McLaren was stronger there as well. I think overall they are just a bit better now, so then it’s always going to be a difficult race. But at least we are in front on the grid and hopefully we can make it difficult for them.”

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Verstappen also indicated running a higher mileage Honda engine will not help him defend his lead on the straights, admitting it “does quite make a difference this weekend”.

Yet at least Red Bull’s revised floor, which only Verstappen trialled this weekend, appears to have provided the net downforce increase the team had been expecting. But, he felt the true benefit won’t become clear until later in the season due to Miami’s awkward corner profiles.

“On this track it’s always very difficult to really judge something, because everything feels very weird here – both in terms of grip and also the corners are all very weird as well. I think we’ll know more when we go to Imola,” the four-time world champion explained, with Imola being the next stop on the calendar.

“We changed some small things going into qualifying and the car was turning a bit better. That’s positive, but obviously this is still not what we want or where we want to be. But it was actually better than expected.

“Before coming here to Miami, we thought this would be a tricky one with the slow-speed corners and kerbstones that you have to attack. That’s normally not our strongest point.”

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Photos from Miami GP – Sprint & Qualifying

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Miami, FL

Hundreds of Caribbean flights canceled, leaving travelers stranded at Miami International Airport

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Hundreds of Caribbean flights canceled, leaving travelers stranded at Miami International Airport


Travel disruptions continued Sunday at Miami International Airport after hundreds of flights to and from the Caribbean were canceled, leaving passengers stranded, separated from their luggage, and scrambling to salvage vacation plans.

The Federal Aviation Administration closed airspace in and around Venezuela following the reported capture of Nicolás Maduro on Saturday, triggering a ripple effect across Caribbean travel routes.

By Sunday, long lines had formed inside MIA as travelers waited hours to track down luggage that had been sent ahead — even though their flights never took off.

“As you can see, there’s a lot of people, and apparently thousands and thousands of bags,” said Jennifer Heimann, who was traveling from Tampa.

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Heimann and her family were scheduled to sail on a catamaran in the British Virgin Islands. Their flight to St. Thomas was canceled, but their luggage still made the trip.

“They said, ‘Your bags are in St. Thomas,’ and I said, ‘Wait — our bags are there and we’re not?’” Heimann said. “We can’t even get a flight until Thursday, and they just sent the bags ahead.”

The family is now renting a car to drive back to Tampa and hoping their luggage eventually finds its way home.

Similar frustrations were echoed by other travelers across the terminal.

The Cookson family, traveling from Tyler, Texas, had their flight to San Juan, Puerto Rico canceled just before they were set to board a cruise.

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“They’re shipping our bags out to the Caribbean and not allowing us to retrieve them,” said Pamela Cookson. “We don’t know when we’re going to get our luggage.”

American Airlines says it added six additional flights out of Miami, bringing the total to roughly two dozen extra flights and nearly 5,000 additional seats to help impacted customers. Even so, many passengers told CBS News Miami the earliest rebooking available wasn’t until Thursday.

Susan Daniel, traveling from Little Rock, Arkansas to St. Croix, said the delays forced her family to make last-minute arrangements.

“We had to Uber, leave our bags, get an Airbnb, then come back today, take another Uber, and stand in this long line just to hopefully get our bags and our computers — everything we need,” Daniel said.

Some travelers reported waiting hours in one line, only to be directed into another long wait for their luggage. Others tried to make the best of the situation.

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“Guess we’re vacationing in Miami now for three days or something like that,” said Jake Boylin, who was traveling from St. Louis. “Then going back home and rescheduling the trip.”

The next unanswered question for many travelers: whether they’ll be reimbursed for canceled trips, hotels, and cruises.

Travel experts advise passengers to keep all receipts and documentation in case refunds or reimbursements become available.



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Miami, FL

Venezuela supporters join Cuban Americans in Miami show of solidarity

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Venezuela supporters join Cuban Americans in Miami show of solidarity


In Little Havana, Cuban and Venezuelan Americans gathered outside an iconic restaurant to show solidarity following the removal of Nicolás Maduro. Crowds waved Cuban and Venezuelan flags throughout the afternoon and evening, describing the moment as one they had hoped for over decades.



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Miami, FL

Miami-Dade sheriff’s deputy opens fire on vehicle after altercation during traffic stop, officials say

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Miami-Dade sheriff’s deputy opens fire on vehicle after altercation during traffic stop, officials say



An investigation is underway in Northwest Miami-Dade after the sheriff’s office said a deputy opened fire after an altercation occurred during a traffic stop on Sunday night.

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According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, a deputy received an alert about a stolen vehicle Sunday evening and eventually located the vehicle in the area of NW 17th Avenue and NW 95th Street in West Little River and conducted a traffic stop.

The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said that as the deputy approached the vehicle, an altercation began, and the deputy opened fire, striking the vehicle.

That vehicle then fled the scene and was located nearby.

The sheriff’s office said a gun was located inside the vehicle, and the driver fled the scene.

That person is still at large as of early Monday morning, officials said.

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The deputy was not injured in the incident, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has taken over the investigation.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS (8477).



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