The Miami Grand Prix delivered high drama as McLaren’s Lando Norris and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen went wheel-to-wheel in an intense on-track battle that ultimately shaped the race’s outcome. Norris, who was caught in an early incident with Verstappen, did not mince words post-race, stating the Dutch driver wasn’t “racing very smart.”
Early Clash Costs Norris a Shot at Victory
Norris’s hopes for a Miami Grand Prix win were compromised as early as the opening lap. Attempting an ambitious move around the outside of Turn 1, he tried to cut back at Turn 2 to overtake Verstappen. However, Verstappen held his line and nudged his car toward the McLaren, forcing Norris off the track and dropping him to sixth place.
Reflecting on the moment, Norris said, “He probably could have finished third today, and he didn’t because of that. So yeah, he’s fighting, that is always expected, but that’s what it is.” Norris argued that Verstappen’s aggressive defense didn’t just hurt McLaren but also cost the Red Bull driver a podium finish, allowing Mercedes’ George Russell to claim third via a strategic Virtual Safety Car pit stop.
Verstappen Unfazed by P4 Finish
In contrast, Verstappen showed little frustration with his fourth-place result. “Honestly it’s not frustrating at all,” he said. “We are here to win and today we were miles off that, so it doesn’t really matter if you are a P3 or P4. I had nothing to lose, so I also just wanted to have a bit of fun out there.”
Stella: Norris Needed More Patience
McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella offered a more analytical take on the incident. “With the benefit of hindsight, it could have been better for Lando to just lift and make sure he kept second,” Stella said. “He was very fast and would certainly have passed Max, like Oscar [Piastri] did later. Lando could have been a little bit more patient.”
Norris was delayed again during his battle with Verstappen when he completed a pass at Turn 11 by going off-track. He was forced to give the position back before reclaiming it legally the next lap.
Despite the early incident and the delay, Norris managed to recover and chase down teammate Piastri late in the race, though he ultimately ran out of time.
Piastri Stays Cool and Claims Another Win
Oscar Piastri secured his third straight victory, capitalizing on the McLaren’s strong pace and a strategic approach to passing Verstappen. “It was tough at the beginning trying to get past Max,” Piastri admitted. “But I picked my moments. I knew once Lando got back behind me, he was going to be catching us a lot, so I had to make my move quickly and cleanly.”
He added: “It was a matter of just biding my time, waiting for a moment—or forcing him into one. That’s what I was able to do.”
Championship Outlook
With his win in Miami, Piastri now leads the Drivers’ Championship by 16 points over Norris, with Verstappen a further 16 points behind. As the F1 calendar moves toward Europe, the momentum appears to be shifting firmly in McLaren’s favor—with team dynamics and on-track decision-making playing a growing role in the title race.