The 2022 Miami Grand Prix is about to go underway for the first time in Formula 1 history. This is the calendar’s fifth race of the season and is one of the most anticipated races of the first half of the calendar. Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen continue to fight for the top spot after the defending champion grabbed P1 at Imola. Ferrari and Leclerc remain on top of the Drivers and Constructors’ championships, but Red Bull looks to reel the Scuderia in over the weekend.

The action starts at the Miami International Autodrome on Friday afternoon with FP1 and FP2, followed by a final practice session and qualifying on Saturday. The Grand Prix takes off on Sunday, May 8, 2022, at 15:30 ET.

That said, Nitrobetting takes a look at the top storylines ahead of the 2022 Miami Grand Prix.

Top Storylines Ahead Of 2022 Miami Grand Prix

The stage is set for a massive weekend ahead in Miami ?https://t.co/JGsCJV3kN0#MiamiGP #F1

— Formula 1 (@F1) May 5, 2022

READ MORE: 2022 Miami Grand Prix F1 Odds, Preview, and Prediction

Max Verstappen gaining momentum

The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix breathed more life into the Dutchman with full points when he crossed the checkered flag. Verstappen added 26 points to his name and is the favorite to win the Miami GP. He has won every race he finished so far this year. It’s worth keeping an eye on Red Bull’s reliability concerns this season, but the car looks fast enough to fight for P1 and podium finishes as long as no mechanical issues come into play.

We’ve seen more mistakes come from Leclerc this season, but a series of mechanical issues held Verstappen back. Carlos Sainz has more work to do, and he looks forward to a finish after two consecutive DNFs.

McLaren looks to have the pace to stay ahead of the Mercedes duo after dealing with early issues with the MCL36. Lando Norris’s podium at the recent Grand Prix gives light to his skills and pace, and the youngster is bound to score his first P1 finish in the near future.

Podium contenders

Red Bull and Ferrari still lead this conversation. It’s been a solid exchange for both teams so far, with Ferrari looking stronger than they have in years. Three other drivers made it to the podium this season, including Lando Norris, George Russell, and Lewis Hamilton. New upgrades for Mercedes are yet to be seen in the weekend. If it resolves several issues, we might just see both drivers fighting in front of the pack come race day.

Haas will enjoy its first race of the season and the American outfit looks to score more points with Kevin Magnussen delivering consistent performances in five races. There’s still work to do for that podium finish based on the earlier races, but the team is headed in the right direction comparing their results from last season. Meanwhile, Alpine is another team that looks fast based on their results, with Fernando Alonso almost scoring a podium finish if it weren’t for car damages last time out.

A clean slate for all

The fresh 19-corner 5.412-kilometer track sits by the Miami Dolphins’ Hard Rock Stadium. It impressed the grid, teams, and fans with its fast layout that can potentially deliver average speeds of 224 kilometers per hour. Furthermore, Three DRS zones encourage more overtaking action throughout the race. Drivers present in the pre-race show got a first look at the newly-constructed track. It is the 11th venue to host a Grand Prix in the United States of America and the 61st race in the country. But with hype coming from Netflix’s Drive to Survive, the sport garnered overflowing interest from locals.

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