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Tag Archives: Inaugural
Amanda Gorman’s Inaugural Poem, “The Hill We Climb,” Restricted by Florida School – The New York Times
- Amanda Gorman’s Inaugural Poem, “The Hill We Climb,” Restricted by Florida School The New York Times
- #AmandaGorman responds to ban of her inaugural poem MSNBC
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- Controversy over a Miami-Dade school removing a book based on Amanda Gorman poem CBS Miami
Jesús Ferreira Nets Late Equalizer As U.S. Men’s National Team Ties Mexico 1-1 In Inaugural Allstate Continental Clásico | U.S. Soccer Official Website – U.S. Soccer
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- USMNT vs. Mexico | Extended Highlights (En Espanol) | 4/19/2023 | NBC Sports NBC Sports
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- Ahead of Meaningful Summer, USMNT Denies Mexico Momentum in 1–1 Draw Sports Illustrated
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Sun’s Chromosphere Revealed in Stunning Inaugural Images From World’s Most Powerful Solar Telescope
One of the first images of the chromosphere – the area of the Sun’s atmosphere above the surface – taken with the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope. Credit: National Solar Observatory (NSO), AURA, NSF
NSF’s flagship solar telescope, the largest in the world, to herald a new era of solar science.
New observations released in celebration of the Inouye Solar Telescope Inauguration Ceremony.
On August 31, 2022, a delegation of U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) leaders, congressional dignitaries, and members of both the scientific and Native Hawaiian communities gathered near the summit of Haleakalā, Maui to commemorate the inauguration of the world’s most powerful solar telescope. The NSF’s Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope is delivering on its promise to reveal the Sun in ways never seen before as it nears the completion of the first year of its Operations Commissioning Phase (OCP).
The first images of the chromosphere – the area of the Sun’s atmosphere above the surface – taken with the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope on June 3rd, 2022. The image shows a region 82,500 kilometers across at a resolution of 18 km (11 miles). This image is taken at 486.13 nanometers using the hydrogen-beta line from the Balmer series. (See with Earth overlaid for scale.) Credit: National Solar Observatory (NSO), AURA, NSF
If a picture is worth a thousand words, the images and data produced by the Inouye Solar Telescope will write the next chapters of solar physics research. Included in this are two stunning new images released in celebration of last week’s events. Over 25 years ago, the NSF invested in creating a world-leading, ground-based solar observatory to address the most pressing questions in solar physics and space weather events that impact Earth. This vision, executed by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) through the NSF’s National Solar Observatory (NSO), was realized during the formal inauguration of the Inouye Solar Telescope.
“NSF’s Inouye Solar Telescope is the world’s most powerful solar telescope that will forever change the way we explore and understand our sun,” said NSF Director, Sethuraman Panchanathan. “Its insights will transform how our nation, and the planet, predict and prepare for events like solar storms.”
The first images of the chromosphere – the area of the Sun’s atmosphere above the surface – taken with the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope on June 3rd, 2022. The image shows a region 82,500 kilometers across at a resolution of 18 km (11 miles). This image is taken at 486.13 nanometers using the hydrogen-beta line from the Balmer series. (See with Earth overlaid for scale.) Credit: NSO/AURA/NSF
To commemorate this momentous occasion the inauguration brought NSF leadership, telescope staff, and members of the scientific community together to acknowledge this historical milestone of bringing the telescope online. Representatives from the NSF, AURA, and the NSO were joined by key House and Senate staffers from the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, as well as key staff from the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee responsible for authorizing and funding the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope.
A delegation of NSF leaders, congressional dignitaries, and members of both the scientific and Native Hawaiian communities gathered at the NSF’s Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope to recognize the telescope’s inauguration on August 31st, 2022. Credit: National Solar Observatory (NSO), AURA, NSF
It is noted that the Inouye Solar Telescope is located on land of spiritual and cultural significance to the Native Hawaiian people. The use of this meaningful site to further scientific knowledge is done so with appreciation and respect. Members of the Inouye Solar Telescope Native Hawaiian Working Group were recognized for their invaluable role in educating NSF and NSO staff about cultural issues of importance to them and in providing cultural input throughout the telescope’s construction. Hōkūlani Holt, Director of the Ka Hikina O Ka Lā program at the University of Hawai‘i Maui College, led an opening pule (prayer) in accordance with Hawaiian cultural protocol.
The Inouye Solar Telescope has embarked on a mission to progress solar science, research, and education and foster relationships with local communities throughout Hawaiʻi. Since OCP began in February 2022, the Inouye Solar Telescope has gathered data for more than 20 of the accepted scientific proposals and has conducted initial coordinated solar observations with NASA’s Parker Solar Probe and ESA/NASA’s Solar Orbiter.
“With the world’s largest solar telescope now in science operations, we are grateful for all who make this remarkable facility possible,” said Matt Mountain, AURA President. “In particular we thank the people of Hawai‘i for the privilege of operating from this remarkable site, to the National Science Foundation and the US Congress for their consistent support, and to our Inouye Solar Telescope Team, many of whom have tirelessly devoted over a decade to this transformational project. A new era of Solar Physics is beginning!”
Dr. Thomas Rimmele, Director of the Inouye Solar Telescope welcomed the delegation at the 10,000 ft site at Haleakalā Observatories in Maui, HI. Credit: National Solar Observatory (NSO), AURA, NSF
The NSF and NSO support the growth and development of Hawai‘i’s scientific & technical workforce through educational and workforce development programs. Hawai‘i and Native Hawaiian students are supported on their journey to obtaining careers in STEM through school and community outreach events, participation in the Akamai Workforce Initiative, and the NSF-funded Ka Hikina O Ka Lā program. The partnership with the National Park Service (Haleakalā National Park) to host Solar Week in 2022 is an example of the efforts to bring solar science to the general public. Employment opportunities at the Inouye Solar Telescope aim to diversify Hawaiʻi’s job industry and provide STEM-based career opportunities for Hawaiʻiʻs workforce.
Dressed in clean room attire, members of the Inauguration delegation visit the Inouye Solar Telescope’s instrument laboratory, called the Coudé Lab. Optical components of the telescope’s cameras can be seen in the foreground. Credit: National Solar Observatory (NSO), AURA, NSF
The inauguration puts a stamp on an ambitious, multi-decade project to provide the world with its preeminent solar observatory. The celebration honored the collaborative effort between the many entities and individuals needed to successfully bring the telescope to operations. It marked the beginning of the Inouye Solar Telescope’s 50-year journey to revolutionize our understanding of the Sun, its magnetic behavior, and its influence on Earth.
Kumu Hōkūlani Holt, Director of the Ka Hikina O Ka Lā program at the University of Hawai‘i Maui College, led an opening pule (prayer) in accordance with Hawaiian cultural protocol and spoke with the inauguration attendees. Credit: National Solar Observatory (NSO), AURA, NSF
The U.S. National Science Foundation’s Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope is operated by the National Solar Observatory (NSO). It is a federally funded research and development center focused on solar research, under management by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA). The Inouye Solar Telescope and NSO are funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) through a cooperative agreement with AURA. The Inouye Solar Telescope is located on land of spiritual and cultural significance to Native Hawaiian people. The use of this important site to further scientific knowledge is done so with appreciation and respect.
Gigantic Crowds Expected for Inaugural Launch of NASA’s Mega Rocket
NASA’s SLS rocket is slated to launch for the first time in just three weeks, rumbling off the launch pad with 8.8 million pounds of thrust. There to see it take flight will be thousands upon thousands of spectators, as the Artemis era officially gets underway.
The 322-foot-tall Space Launch System is the most powerful rocket that NASA has ever built, launching with 15% more power than the Apollo-era Saturn V rocket and nearly 12% more power than the system that delivered the Space Shuttle to orbit. Attending an SLS launch will be a feast for the senses—and a major attraction for tourists visiting Florida’s Space Coast.
Artemis 1—the inaugural launch of SLS—is currently scheduled for August 29 at 8:33 a.m. ET, with backup windows available on September 2 and September 5. A local tourism official told Florida Today that more than 100,000 visitors are expected to attend the launch, in which SLS will ascend from Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center and attempt to send an uncrewed Orion capsule on a 42-day journey around the Moon and back. The launch will signify the start of the Artemis era and potentially set the stage for a crewed repeat of the mission in 2024 and a crewed mission to the lunar surface no earlier than 2025.
The Space Coast is no stranger to big crowds. During the Shuttle era, it wasn’t uncommon for half a million people to attend a launch, and as Peter Cranis, executive director of the Space Coast Office of Tourism, told Florida Today, launches of SpaceX Crew Dragons are drawing as many as 250,000 visitors. Accordingly, the estimate of 100,000 people for the SLS launch may be on the low side, though it’s tough to tell.
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Indeed, enthusiasm for NASA’s Artemis program hasn’t been great. Earlier this year, none of the contestants on Jeopardy! knew about the upcoming Moon missions, and during a NASA media briefing on August 3, a reporter from Ohio claimed that only two people out of 30 in his newsroom knew that the United States was returning to the Moon. NASA administrator Bill Nelson was taken aback by this claim, saying reporters in Orlando are certainly aware of the Artemis missions and that the eventual Moon landings will capture the public’s attention and reach the nation’s front pages.
Regardless, the influx of visitors to the area could strain the area’s ability to host them. Florida Today says just slightly more than 10,000 hotel rooms and 4,500 vacation units are available in Brevard County. That said, many visitors from the surrounding area, such as Orlando, won’t be staying the night.
For tourists, the Space Coast is truly living up to its name. In addition to its gorgeous beaches, this Atlantic coastal stretch is now witness to a steady stream of rocket launches. The current year alone has already seen 32 launches from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral, in a pace that hasn’t been seen since the 1960s.
Tourists can watch these launches from the beach, in designated areas near the launch pad, and even from a rooftop bar. The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex presents another attraction, including the newly opened Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex, which features a scale model of SLS, replica spacesuits, and a SpaceX Falcon Heavy booster.
Charl Schwartzel wins inaugural LIV Golf individual competition and $4 million prize
With the victory, Schwartzel earned $4 million for the three-round, 54-hole event. The 37-year-old shot 7-under at the Centurion Golf Club outside London, finishing one stroke clear of Hennie du Plessis.
Schwartzel’s four-man team, Stinger GC, also won the team competition by 14 shots over Crushers GC and will split the $3 million prize. The 2011 Masters champion combined payday for winning both individual and team contests is $4.75 million.
Phil Mickelson finished in 34th place on 10-over in the 48-player field. Dustin Johnson placed eighth, and ended the tournament on 1-under.
Fronted by former world No. 1 Greg Norman, the LIV Golf series runs from June to October with the aim, it says, to “holistically improve the health of professional golf on a global scale to help unlock the sports’ (sic) untapped potential.”
It is backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) — a sovereign wealth fund chaired by Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and the man who a US intelligence report named as responsible for approving the operation that led to the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Bin Salman has denied involvement in Khashoggi’s murder.
READ: What the LIV Golf series was actually like on the ground
The source of the money has led to queries and criticism aimed at organizers and players about choosing to play for money from the country given its human rights record.
The country has been criticized by human rights groups for years. In March, Saudi Arabia executed 81 men in the biggest mass execution in decades. Rights groups have criticized the country for executing people who were minors at the time of the offenses for which they were convicted.
Mickelson was the main focus of attention at the inaugural tournament, mainly because he is one of the sport’s biggest stars but also because this will be his first competitive event since his controversial comments about the Saudi Arabian-funded events were published earlier this year by his biographer.
The six-time major winner was quoted from a 2021 interview with author Alan Shipnuck for his upcoming book, “Phil: The Rip-Roaring (and Unauthorized!) Biography of Golf’s Most Colorful Superstar,” as saying disparaging things about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and asserting that the kingdom killed journalist Khashoggi.
The next LIV Golf tournament is scheduled for June 30-July 2 at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club near Portland, Oregon.
LIV Golf: PGA Tour officially suspends golfers participating in inaugural event
“As you know, players listed below did not receive the necessary conflicting event and media rights releases — or did not apply for releases at all — and their participation in the Saudi Golf League/LIV Golf event is in violation of our Tournament Regulations,” Monahan said in a memo.
“The same fate holds true for any other players who participate in future Saudi Golf League events in violation of our Regulations.”
Players who have resigned their memberships will be removed from the FedEx Cup points list when the RBC Canadian Open scores are posted on Sunday.
The 17 golfers listed, including past major winners Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia, will not be permitted to play in PGA Tour tournaments as a non-member via a sponsor exemption or any other eligibility category, the memo reiterated.
Mickelson, who previously held a lifetime eligibility to the PGA Tour, said on Wednesday he didn’t plan on quitting the Tour as he had earned the right to participate as he has “a lifetime membership which he has earned, and worked hard for.”
What’s next?
As far as what happens now for the PGA Tour, Monahan added in the statement: “You probably have more questions. What’s next? Can these players come back? Can they eventually play PGA TOUR Champions? Trust that we’re prepared to deal with those questions, and we’ll approach them in the same way we have this entire process: by being transparent and respecting the PGA TOUR regulations that you helped establish.
“These players have made their choice for their own financial-based reasons. But they can’t demand the same PGA TOUR membership benefits, considerations, opportunities and platform as you. That expectation disrespects you, our fans and our partners. You have made a different choice, which is to abide by the Tournament Regulations you agreed to when you accomplished the dream of earning a PGA TOUR card and — more importantly — to compete as part of the preeminent organization in the world of professional golf.”
What is the LIV Golf series?
The LIV Golf series is backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) — a sovereign wealth fund chaired by Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and the man who a US intelligence report named as responsible for approving the operation that led to the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Bin Salman has denied involvement in Khashoggi’s murder.
The tour consists of eight events across the world, beginning in London on Thursday.
Fronted by former world No. 1 Greg Norman, the team-based series runs from June to October with the aim, it says, to “holistically improve the health of professional golf on a global scale to help unlock the sports’ (sic) untapped potential.”
Saudi Arabia’s PIF has pledged to award $250 million in total prize money. Each of the first seven events will have a total prize purse of $25 million, with $20 million split between individual players and the remaining $5 million shared between the top three teams at the end of each week.
Ahead of the first event in London, the 12 teams were announced, as well as their captain. On Tuesday, captains selected the rest of their teams in a draft format akin to the NFL and NBA drafts.
Unlike typical golfing events, London’s event is over three days not four, with the 48-man field beginning with a shotgun start — all at the same time — in the hopes of being a more engaging, action-packed style event.
Competing in a traditional stroke play format, the lowest score will be the winner.
What was LIV Golf’s response?
LIV Golf responded to the PGA Tour’s decision to suspend players on Thursday, saying: “Today’s announcement by the PGA Tour is vindictive and it deepens the divide between the Tour and its members. It’s troubling that the Tour, an organization dedicated to creating opportunities for golfers to play the game, is the entity blocking golfers from playing.
“This certainly is not the last word on this topic. The era of free agency is beginning as we are proud to have a full field of players joining us in London, and beyond.”
Biden, on inaugural Asia visit, says he would be willing to use force to defend Taiwan
TOKYO, May 23 (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden said on Monday he would be willing to use force to defend Taiwan, capping a series of critical comments about China while in Asia that an aide said represented no change in U.S. policy toward the self-ruled island.
Biden’s remarks, made during his first visit to Japan since taking office, and as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida looked on, appeared to be a departure from existing U.S. policy of so-called strategic ambiguity on Taiwan.
China considers the democratic island its territory, under its “one China” policy, and says it is the most sensitive and important issue in its relationship with Washington.
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When a reporter asked Biden during a joint news conference with the Japanese leader if the United States would defend Taiwan if it were attacked, the president answered: “Yes”.
“That’s the commitment we made,” he said.
“We agree with a one-China policy. We’ve signed on to it and all the intended agreements made from there. But the idea that, that it can be taken by force, just taken by force, is just not, is just not appropriate.”
Biden added it was his expectation that such an event would not happen or be attempted.
A White House official later said there was no change in policy towards Taiwan. China expressed its “strong dissatisfaction with and resolution opposition to the remarks”, a spokesman for it foreign ministry said.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry thanked Biden for his support.
Biden’s national security aides shifted in their seats and appeared to be studying Biden closely as he responded to the question on Taiwan. Several looked down as he made what appeared to be an unambiguous commitment to Taiwan’s defence.
Biden made a similar comment about defending Taiwan in October. At that time, a White House spokesperson said Biden was not announcing any change in U.S. policy and one analyst referred to the comment as a “gaffe”. read more
Despite the White House insistence that Monday’s comments did not represent a change of U.S. policy, Grant Newsham, a retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel and now a research fellow at the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies, said the meaning was clear.
U.S. President Joe Biden and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attend a press conference at Akasaka guest house, in Tokyo, Japan, May 23, 2022. Nicolas Datiche/Pool via REUTERS
“This statement deserves to be taken seriously,” Newsham said. “It is a clear enough statement that the U.S. will not sit by if China attacks Taiwan.”
While Washington is required by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, it has long followed a policy of “strategic ambiguity” on whether it would intervene militarily to protect Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack.
‘TOUGHEN THE POLICY’
Biden made other tough comments about Beijing’s increasingly assertive posture in the region, saying he hoped Russian President Vladimir Putin would pay a price for his invasion of Ukraine in part to show China what it would face if it were to invade Taiwan.
“They’re seeking to toughen their policy but without necessarily provoking China,” said James Brown, an associate professor at Temple University Japan.
Biden’s remarks are also likely to overshadow the centrepiece of his Japan visit, the launch of an Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, a broad plan providing an economic pillar for U.S. engagement with Asia. read more
During his time in Tokyo, Biden is also scheduled to meet the leaders of India and Australia – the other members of the Quad, an informal security grouping formed to counter China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
Japanese premier Kishida emphasised Tokyo’s readiness to take a more robust defence posture, something the United States has long welcomed.
Kishida said he told Biden that Japan would consider various options to boost its defence capabilities, including the ability to retaliate. That would include a “considerable increase” in its defence budget, Kishida said.
Japan’s role in any conflict over Taiwan would be to enable a U.S. operation and help the United States defend its assets, said Yoji Koda, a retired Maritime Self Defense Force admiral and former fleet commander.
“Japan’s role in that would be substantial. Japan is an enabler of that security deterrence,” he said.
Kishida said that he had gained support from Biden on Japan’s becoming a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council amid growing calls for reform of the council. China and Russia are permanent members.
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Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Additional reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka, Sakura Murakami, Chang-Ran Kim, Nobuhiro Kubo, Daniel Leussink, Kantaro Komiya, Ju-min Park, and Tim Kelly; Writing by Elaine Lies and David Dolan; Editing by Robert Birsel & Simon Cameron-Moore
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
PGA Tour denies releases to players looking to compete in inaugural LIV event in London next month, according to memo
The PGA Tour has denied releases to the players looking to play in the first event of the Saudi Arabian-financed LIV Golf Invitational Series, according to a memo obtained by ESPN.
The debut tournament, set to take place in London from June 9 to 11, coincides with the PGA Tour’s RBC Canadian Open that week. As a result, PGA Tour players would have to be granted a release from the tour to compete in the LIV tournament.
The expectation was that the PGA Tour would grant releases to players, similar to ones it has given for other international events, but that won’t be the case, as the tour notified its players through a memo Tuesday.
“We have notified those who have applied that their request has been declined in accordance with the PGA Tour Tournament Regulations. As such, Tour members are not authorized to participate in the Saudi Golf League’s London event under our regulations,” the memo read. “As a membership organization, we believe this decision is in the best interest of the PGA Tour and its players.”
In the past, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan threatened players with suspensions and/or lifetime bans if they competed in the LIV Golf series without releases.
LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman told ESPN last week that he had players registered who were willing to challenge the PGA Tour’s position in court.
“I can only speak on information given to me by our legal team, and I have an extremely talented legal team in antitrust and anti-competitive laws, and we believe we’re in the right position,” Norman said. “We believe the players are independent contractors and have a right to go play wherever they want to go play.”
The eight-event LIV series will feature four tournaments played in the United States. It will include seven regular-season events and a team championship match play finale at Trump Doral in Miami from Oct. 28 to 30.
The second Saudi event is scheduled for July 1-3 at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in Portland, Oregon. May 17 is the deadline for requesting a release from the tour for that event.
It was anticipated that releases might be granted for overseas events, but not for tournaments in the U.S.
“Portland will probably be an interesting beachhead for player releases and those who want to come play,” Norman said last week. “But irrespective, it’s going to happen. Portland will take place. The same with Trump Bedminster, the International, Rich Harvest Farms and Trump Doral. It’s all going to happen.”
Phil Mickelson is among the players who had sought a release to play in the London event, his longtime agent, Steve Loy of Sportfive, said last month. Longtime PGA Tour members Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia have also confirmed that they requested releases from the tour.
Norman told ESPN last week that more than 200 players had registered for the first event, including about 15 of the top 100 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
Norman said he had tried to work with the PGA Tour, but Monahan hadn’t been willing to do so.
“For the PGA Tour to say we’re a breakaway league is completely wrong,” Norman said. “We’re not a breakaway tour, we’re an additive to the ecosystem of the game of golf. To cast this animus against me [is wrong]. It goes to other institutions as well. Just because I’m very blessed and fortunate enough to be the CEO of this opportunity to grow the game of golf, don’t target me for specific stuff and reasons. That’s crazy.”
2022 Miami Grand Prix report and highlights: Verstappen wins inaugural Miami Grand Prix over Leclerc after late Safety Car drama
Max Verstappen won the first ever Miami Grand Prix, having pried the lead off Ferrari’s pole-sitter Charles Leclerc early in the race, and defended it in an enthralling late-race battle.
Red Bull’s reigning champion took P2 off Carlos Sainz into Turn 1 at the start, and soon began to close in on Leclerc. The Ferrari driver lost the lead to his rival on the main straight at the start of Lap 9 of 57 and pitted from mediums to hards on Lap 24, causing Verstappen to react with his stop two laps later. It seemed that Verstappen would cruise to victory in front of Miami Gardens’ marina…
READ MORE: Verstappen elated with ‘comeback’ win in Miami – but calls on Red Bull to iron out ‘hit and miss’ weekends
That was until the Lap 41 caution, a VSC-turned-Safety Car triggered by a clash between Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris, which sent the McLaren driver into a spin as his right-rear tyre ripped off. Perez took the opportunity to pit for new mediums from P4, emerging there, with hard-shod Verstappen, Leclerc and Sainz ahead.
The Lap 47 restart saw Verstappen lead away but struggle to build up a gap to Leclerc. It was equally difficult for Sainz, who was being hounded by medium-shod Sergio Perez for the final podium place.
Perez attempted to pass Sainz on Lap 52 but locked up, both drivers avoiding contact, while Leclerc was under half a second behind Verstappen in the chase for the lead. But neither Perez nor Leclerc could make headway, and the win – narrow as it was over the Ferraris – would be Verstappen’s.
|
1 Max Verstappen VER Red Bull Racing |
1:34:24.258 | 26 |
|
2 Charles Leclerc LEC Ferrari |
+3.786s | 18 |
|
3 Carlos Sainz SAI Ferrari |
+8.229s | 15 |
|
4 Sergio Perez PER Red Bull Racing |
+10.638s | 12 |
|
5 George Russell RUS Mercedes |
+18.582s | 10 |
Rounding out the top five was George Russell, who started 11th and pitted during the VSC, using the benefit of newer tyres to pass team mate Lewis Hamilton on Lap 54. Hamilton lamented the fact that he couldn’t pit during the VSC but was promoted to P6 when Valtteri Bottas went wide at Turn 17 on Lap 49.
The Alfa Romeo driver seemed destined for P5 having started there, but his late mistake left him seventh. The Alpines were next, Esteban Ocon finishing eighth from Fernando Alonso in ninth – the latter having been penalised by five seconds for contact with Gasly.
Alonso was given a further five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage on the penultimate lap, promoting Alex Albon to P9, Lance Stroll to P10, and demoting the two-time champion to 11th.
FACTS AND STATS: Verstappen does US double as Russell maintains top-5 run
2022 Miami Grand Prix: Huge contact with Vettel costs Schumacher his first F1 points
Kevin Magnussen retired late on after contact with Lance Stroll (P10 after having started in the pits), as did Sebastian Vettel – who started in the pits and was tapped out of the race by Mick Schumacher (P15).
Gasly did not finish after his contact with Norris (DNF), while Zhou Guanyu was the first retiree, having been pulled into the pits on Lap 7.
Despite starting on the front row, Ferrari couldn’t convert their advantage to a Miami Grand Prix win – while Max Verstappen has now made it two wins in a row.
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AS IT HAPPENED
Swaying palm trees, A-list celebrities, the biggest Marina this side of Dade County – the Miami Grand Prix weekend was always destined to be a showstopper. Now it was just time for lights out in the Sunshine State.
Ferrari painted the front row red thanks to pole-sitter Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, with row two belonging to the Red Bulls – Max Verstappen ahead of Sergio Perez – while Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas would share row three with former Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton.
DRIVER OF THE DAY: Verstappen gets your vote after holding off Leclerc in Miami
Aston Martin encountered pre-race fuel temperature trouble, both Lance Stroll and Sebastian Vettel starting from the pit lane to avoid a penalty from the FIA – while Esteban Ocon would begin from the back for Alpine having crashed in FP2.
Bushels of ominous clouds looming, concrete walls closing in, 18 drivers lined up on the grid. Amid the stifling heat, four drivers (Stroll, Vettel, George Russell and Ocon) began on hard compounds, while the other 16 started on mediums.
At the start, Leclerc had a terrific launch while Sainz lost out to Verstappen going into Turn 1, Hamilton falling to eighth after a Turn 1 lock-up and Fernando Alonso jumping from 11th to seventh – making slight contact with Hamilton in the process.
While Leclerc held station in the lead, Verstappen was just over a second behind, with Hamilton – now complaining of damage after the Lap 1 tap from Alonso – breezing past the Alpine driver for P7 on the run up to Turn 11 on Lap 3. On Lap 6, he took P6 off Gasly and the seven-time champion was back where he began.
Lap 8 saw Verstappen get well into DRS range, right on the tail of Leclerc, and the Dutchman made the pass for the lead on the main straight at the start of Lap 9. Leclerc prepared his rebuttal, tailing the Red Bull throughout the next lap – but the reigning champion was now in a commanding position.
Ferrari began to struggle. Lap 13 saw Leclerc suffer a lock-up at Turn 17, his deficit now at 2.5s to Verstappen, while Perez was closing in on Sainz for P3.
READ MORE: Russell pleased to rescue weekend with ‘total fluke’ strategy in ‘brutal’ Miami Grand Prix
Mercedes, meanwhile, were on a march, with Hamilton opening up a gap to Pierre Gasly behind (the Frenchman holding off Alonso for P7) while Russell’s hard tyres came into play and he passed Ricciardo on Lap 14. In an attempt to undercut Gasly, Alonso pitted one lap later but his stop lasted over five seconds, and he emerged 13th.
Lando Norris chose to pit soon after, David Beckham watching the 3.6-second stop unfold, with the McLaren driver emerging 12th but falling to both Aston Martins on Lap 19. Two laps later, he went wide in Sector 3 to bring out a short yellow flag. Towards the front, Russell was now up to seventh, behind Hamilton.
Back in the fight for the podium places, Perez was on the radio to relay that his “engine had gone”, his pit wall attempting to reassure the Mexican as he complained of a loss of power on the lengthy straights. A sensor issue was to blame and Perez was back – but had lost considerable time (and some engine power to boot) to Sainz ahead.
Hamilton was brought in to the pits on Lap 23, emerging seventh with a smooth stop – just ahead of McLaren’s yet-to-pit Ricciardo – and giving the rest of the top 10 something to respond to.
Leclerc was next to pit, a swap to hards taking 3.2 seconds, as he emerged in P4 on Lap 25. That caused Verstappen to react at the end of the next lap and emerge second ahead of team mate Perez, leaving Sainz in the lead until the Spaniard stopped for hard compounds – along with Perez – at the start of Lap 27.
Sainz’s stop however lasted 5.4 seconds, Perez making ground with a 3.1-second stop, to re-ignite the fight for P3.
Then, on Lap 41, Gasly – who had previously been tapped at the final corner by Alonso – went wide at Turn 8, rejoined, and clashed with Norris, ripping the McLaren’s rear-right tyre off and sending him into a spin. A Virtual Safety Car was called, soon morphing into a Safety Car.
2022 Miami Grand Prix: Norris crashes into struggling Gasly
Russell took that moment to pit for the first time, dropping from fifth to seventh, with Perez swapping a second time along with a number of others hoping to snatch positions. Hamilton was asked if he wanted to follow suit – but decided to stay out and try to protect his P6 position.
The Lap 47 restart would therefore see Verstappen lead Leclerc and Sainz (the top three on hards). Then we had medium-tyred Perez, Bottas, then Hamilton and Russell in the top seven. Alonso – now holding a five-second penalty for contact with Gasly – led Schumacher and Ocon at the back of the top 10.
Up and down the grid, the chase was back on.
Perez was right on Sainz’s tail, the Spaniard having run wide on Lap 48, giving the Mexican a run for the final podium place. However, the Red Bull driver made his move on Lap 52, locked up, and caused Sainz to dodge in avoidance. Sainz swept past for P3 and completed the podium.
Meanwhile, right at the front, Leclerc had closed the gap to within half a second but Verstappen held firm – going on to take his second consecutive victory of the season by an eventual 3.786s.
Russell and Hamilton had their own duel on the restart. Medium tyres helped Russell close in on Hamilton on Lap 49, and, with Bottas going wide at Turn 17, both Mercedes swept past. Russell passed Hamilton at Turn 11 but was forced to give the position back having gone off track. He retook P5 a few laps later, leaving Hamilton to lament another unfortunate tyre call on the radio.
Bottas’s late mistake put him seventh, ahead of the soft-tyred Ocon. The Frenchman started at the back but had made up 12 places by Lap 37, classified in P8 and ahead of Alonso, as the Spanish driver was given a five-second penalty for making contact with Gasly earlier on.
A further five-second penalty dropped Alonso to 11th, promoting Alex Albon from 10th to ninth having weathered the chaos in the final Safety Car restart – and Stroll to 10th from 11th.
Ricciardo pitted for hards on Lap 30 and again for softs for the late Safety Car restart, but couldn’t make it count, finishing 12th after a penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. That promoted Stroll up into the final point.
AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda fell out of the top 10 past the halfway point and finished 13th, having also ended the race on softs – a gamble that didn’t pay off for him. Tsunoda was however promoted to 12th after the post-race penalties for Alonso and Ricciardo. That left Williams driver Latifi in P14.
Despite battling with Tsunoda early on to get into the top 10 and then again with team mate Magnussen, Schumacher was classified P15 thanks to late contact with a baffled Vettel, whose race started and ended in the pits.
Gasly didn’t finish the distance after contact with Norris, and Zhou Guanyu was the first of the five drivers not to see the flag, as Alfa Romeo pulled him into the pits with a mechanical issue on Lap 7.
The podium saw the top three celebrate in front of Miami Dolphins legend Dan Marino – and his statue. On this given Sunday, it was Verstappen who ran the whole nine yards in pursuit of his second consecutive victory, and the first Miami Grand Prix win in history.
Key quote
“It was an incredible Grand Prix – very physical as well, but I think we kept it exciting until the end,” said winner Max Verstappen.
“I think I’ll stick to racing,” he said when asked by Willy T Ribbs if he was fit enough to step into the boxing ring, “but I appreciate a lot of boxing. It felt a bit like it out there… but yes, incredibly happy with winning here in Miami, it was an incredible Sunday for us.”
What’s next?
The championship continues in Catalunya with the Spanish Grand Prix on May 20-22, Red Bull now only six points behind Ferrari – and Verstappen 19 points behind Leclerc…
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