Florida Winter Series,
Homestead-Miami, R3 (2)
The Florida Winter Series was a very interesting project, combining a training camp for FDA and Prema proteges with racing on classic American tracks.
It seems to have fizzled out after just one campaign, but it left a few notable benchmarks behind ? Max Verstappen’s first single-seater win, Lance Stroll’s first pole and podium and what was surely the closest finish in junior racing in 2014.
The series finale at Homestead turned out to be an outright masterpiece ? a fight between star newcomer Verstappen and a very on-form Nicholas Latifi that channeled the best traditions of races at Indianapolis and Tallageda.
Poleman Ed Jones was the driver to lead off the line, but Latifi stormed past him after a lap and Verstappen then went on to demote him to third.
The young Dutchman took over in the lead on lap three and went on to establish a three-tenths lead over Latifi, but couldn’t maintain it, giving up first five laps later.
They traded places again right after that and, this time, it seemed that the Canadian was in the clear and on his way to a third consecutive win.
But Verstappen managed to get himself back into the race, and, in the final four laps, the lead would change every time at the line. Latifi sat ahead by 0.021s with one lap to go, but, as they went around Homestead for one final time, it was Max who prevailed, winning by a ludicrous 0.004s.
Having put on the type of race that even Indy Lights’ famous Freedom 100 would be jealous of, the Florida Winter Series promptly closed its doors. It’s a shame, indeed, as it was quite the spectacle, although we would’ve preferred if it scored points towards some sort of standings ? just imagine a title decider at Homestead.
Valentin Khorounzhiy