Max Verstappen finished the Formula 1 Miami GP in second place, but believes he could have fought for victory if it weren’t for a touch with teammate Sergio Perez right at the start.
Starting from pole position, Verstappen was leading the race until turn 1, when Perez, who was starting in fourth, went straight and ended up lightly touching the back of the Dutchman’s car. The touch, according to Verstappen, caused minor damage to his Red Bull.
“It was very close and could have ended badly,” Verstappen told Viaplay. “I think I got a scratch on the diffuser, and he braked 50 meters after everyone else, but luckily nothing serious happened.”
In addition to the contact with Perez, Verstappen also had balance problems throughout the race, including a touch with a cornering protection that caused damage to the floor and front wing, causing the virtual safety car to be deployed.
The safety car ended up benefiting Lando Norris, who stopped to change tires and took the lead. Verstappen was unable to match the McLaren driver’s pace after the restart and finished second, his first podium in that position since the 2023 Azerbaijan GP.
“Without the safety car, it would have been a fight until the end, and I think we were seven or eight seconds ahead of him,” Verstappen added. “But they were faster, so we have work to do. It wasn’t our day, but that could happen”, he added.
F1MANIA.NET follows the Miami GP ‘in loco’ with journalists Victor D. Berto and Rodrigo França.
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