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Horner contradicts Perez assertion over Miami strategy

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Christian Horner has contradicted Sergio Perez 's opinion that the Medium tyre was "weak" in the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix. Pole-sitter Perez opted for a conventional Medium-Hard one-stopper in Miami with title rival Max Verstappen electing for the opposing Hard-Medium plan, giving the World Champion fresher rubber with which to attack in the closing laps. Verstappen passed Perez on Lap 48, just three tours after his pit-stop to cruise to a third victory of the season and increase his points lead to 14 as F1 prepares to head back to Europe. Perez explained he wasn't sure he could have beaten Verstappen on the same strategy , and even ruled out starting on the Hards - but Red Bull boss Horner believes with "hindsight" the Mexican could have pushed more on his own Medium stint to build a gap to the recovering Verstappen. Viewed by others:

Why Mercedes are in the dark on Miami GP chances

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Mercedes Chief Technical Officer Mike Elliott has conceded that the team will have to wait until track action begins to know if they will be com Pet itive at the Miami Grand Prix. The German manufacturer have failed to make steps forward this season despite optimism being created through a one-two finish at last year's Sao Paulo Grand Prix, with Ferrari and Aston Martin ahead at the 2023 Bahrain season-opener. But after jumping in front of Ferrari on pace in Saudi Arabia, Lewis Hamilton became Max Verstappen's closest challenger in Australia and George Russell – who qualified on the front row of the grid – had led before dropping out of the race. A step back was taken in Azerbaijan, however, with Ferrari and Aston Martin back ahead as Mercedes eagerly await their major upgrade package aimed at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Viewed by others:

Supplier refuses to produce 'self-destructing' tyres for F1

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Michelin says it "cannot agree" to supply Formula 1 tyres that "destroy themselves" as it ponders a potential return to Grand Prix racing. The French company has not dismissed the idea of supplying F1 tyres again, having withdrawn at the end of the 2006 season after the tyre war with Bridgestone. Current supplier Pirelli's deal expires at the end of 2024, with the FIA recently opening the tender process for a three-year period between 2025-2027 for a sole supplier, ruling out the opportunity for a so-called tyre war. In its time away from F1, Michelin has supplied rubber to series such as the WEC, MotoGP and Formula E, but needs to see big changes before it would consider bidding for the F1 contract. Viewed by others: Analysis FIA FIA reveal F1 tyre tender plan: What it means and what c

Russell still needs to 'prove himself' at Mercedes

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George Russell must still " prove himself" at Mercedes , according to former Formula 1 driver and 1996 World Champion Damon Hill . Mercedes have endured a tough start to their 2023 campaign, with the W14 not providing them with the results on track that they were expecting. Although Russell managed to win the team's only race with the troubled W13 in Brazil last year, Hill believes the Briton still needs to justify himself being a "valuable asset" to the squad. "George has to work very hard. He has to make himself a valued asset of the team and he's obviously doing that really well," said Hill on the F1 Nation podcast. "But at the same time, he's the one that has to do all the hard work. I think Lewis [Hamilton] doesn't have to [because] they know what they've got with Lewis. "Mercedes know that given half a sniff of a chance, Lewis is going to be back on on top form and can deliver those extraordinary races