Someplace inside this glitzy present lay a half-decent race, and because the chequered flag was waved on a sultry Floridian afternoon Max Verstappen proved himself a worthy winner.

Whereas the scriptwriters could have most well-liked Lewis Hamilton capping this inaugural Miami Grand Prix spectacular with victory, the British celebrity started and completed sixth — additional proof that his Mercedes is out of the working even with a long-time superman on the controls.

So Verstappen, after an excellent late defensive drive, was celebrating his third triumph in 5 races on the daybreak of his title defence, and the game itself was toasting an event they’d so lengthy dreamed of — cracking America.

If there was any doubt of that you need to have seen the maddest, tallest, blingy-est, most numerous pre-race grid parade Components One has ever recognized. Males with eight F1 world titles between them, going by the names of Emerson, Jackie, Mario and Mika, had been misplaced within the forest of giants from sport and celeb.

This was the day the outdated sport unhooked itself off the coattails of its European heritage and stamped its foot within the land of the courageous. Some 80,000-fans hollered, whereas no gimmick was eschewed at this £100million, purpose-built confection across the Arduous Rock Stadium, residence of the Miami Dolphins.

Just one up to date driver holds cut-through attract to the American public, and that’s Sir Lewis. Cameras turned on him like a uncommon tiger on safari as he walked concerning the paddock.

The remainder of the F1 solid had been bit-players in a brand new world inhabited by celebrities such NFL nice Tom Brady, tennis’s Williams sisters, accompanied by Hamilton’s father Anthony, rapper Pharrell Williams, NBA legend Michael Jordan, ‘soccer’s’ David Beckham and socialite Paris Hilton. The checklist runneth over, and nearly all had been stars made west of the Pond.

Europe will stay the center and soul of F1, Monaco in its light glory its most totemic emblem, however Miami 2022 was a glimpse right into a freer, funkier a part of the long run.

Hamilton knew his probabilities of triumph could possibly be rated between slim and 0. His begin didn’t assist. Out of his field quick, sure, he locked up into the primary nook, misplaced momentum, and slipped again two locations. He quickly zipped previous Alpine’s Fernando Alonso after which AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly. The actual fact he was half-a-minute off the lead after 22 of the 57 laps advised of his struggles.

It was a far cry from his six profession wins within the States, one at Indianapolis and the remainder in Austin, the place he additionally clinched two of his seven world titles.

At the least the followers had been handled to a touch of late on-track drama, to excuse the hype. McLaren’s Lando Norris clipped Gasly and his tyre blew. The Briton apologised.

Importantly, the security automobile interruption allowed Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate George Russell a free pit cease, bumping him as much as seventh and proper on to his senior accomplice’s tail within the 30C warmth.

On more energizing rubber, Russell’s menace was at all times going to be an excessive amount of to withstand, and so it proved. He discovered a well past Hamilton on lap 50 to complete fifth.

Russell, 24, has now completed forward of his colleague in each race bar one this marketing campaign. Luck has conspired towards the superb champion, however this setback will hardly have helped his confidence forward of Barcelona in a fortnight.

It was left to Verstappen to be the star of the day, confirming the shape he demonstrated in a dominantly mature weekend in Imola final day out.

Right here, he positioned himself proper on pole-sitter Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari down the beginning straight to carry the within line on the first nook and take the lead originally of lap 9. He had handed the opposite pink automobile, belonging to Carlos Sainz, at the beginning.

So it completed: Verstappen, Leclerc, Sainz — however solely after the victor withstood Leclerc’s scorching breath after Norris’s crash. He was handed his trophy by Dolphins legend Dan Marino.

‘It was an unimaginable grand prix,’ stated Verstappen after narrowing his deficit to Leclerc to 19 factors. ‘Very bodily however I believe we saved it thrilling till the tip.’

The circus returns to America for the Austin race on October 23, when there will likely be a extra intimate really feel each on the monitor and within the compact downtown space of the Texan metropolis, with its cheek-by-jowl bars and eating places. It’s going to additionally appeal to a extra petrolhead crowd than the one partying away right here.

Then subsequent 12 months comes Las Vegas, the third of the US trio that may host F1 for the foreseeable future.

Not that Florida’s Components One pioneers are anxious by competitors. As Tom Garfinkel, chief government of Sunday’s race stated: ‘Vegas becoming a member of the calendar is incredible as a result of all ships rise with the rising tide.’

Re-live all of the twists and turns from the Grand Prix with dwell protection from Sportsmail’s MAX MATHEWS…