Max walks away empty handed after hectic sprint race in Miami: 'Very messy'

Published on 03 May 2025 by Florence Cobben

The Miami Grand Prix sprint race ended on a disappointing note for Max Verstappen. Starting from fourth place on the grid, the four-time world champion seemed underway to a third place finish, but ultimately suffered a heavy blow to his championship bid after a disastrous pit stop. After the Dutchman's team changed his tyres from intermediates to slicks, they released him too early. Max’s Red Bull collided with the back of Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes, and as reprimand the FIA served him a ten-second time penalty. He ultimately finished the sprint race in seventeenth place.

The McLarens had better fortune, as both drivers seemed to comfortably out-pace the rest of the grid. Lando Norris claimed the victory under safety car: Norris had just taken the race lead from Piastri, who had pitted first of the two McLaren drivers, when Fernando Alonso crashed. Lewis Hamilton claimed the remaining spot on the podium.

‘’I think it was clear what happened (during the pitstop). I can't explain much more of it,’’ Max told the press after the sprint race. About his early release by his team, Max says: “Yeah, the pit stop light went off, and I couldn’t see that another car is coming. So yeah, very messy. I think no one wanted that to happen, but it happened. I’m just happy no one got injured.”

About the rest of the sprint race, Max also has little positive to say: “To be honest, it wasn't very special. I couldn't keep up with the McLarens and managed to pull away from the Mercedes' a bit. Not very interesting, to be honest! I was just trying to bring the car home to P3, but yes. This was not ideal!”

In the lead up to the sprint race of the Miami Grand Prix, Florida struggled to live up to it’s reputation as America’s Sunshine State. It’s pouring on the Miami International Autodrome when the drivers start their out laps, with tragic results for Charles Leclerc. The Monégasque's Ferrari aquaplanes off the circuit and he hits the wall, hard. Before the sprint race even starts, Leclerc’s race is over.

The whole grid, apart from Carlos Sainz, starts on intermediates. The safety car is called in to mediate the still miserable track conditions, but after two laps – during which Max briefly shoots off track – the race is postponed. The rain dissipates and tentative sunshine starts to dry up the track, improving grip quickly. Half an hour later, the sprint race gets properly back underway.

A tumultous standing start sees some losers and some winners – Antonelli, who starts from pole for the first time in his Formula 1-career, goes wide in the first corner and rejoins the race in fourth. Piastri, Norris and Verstappen are promoted to the top three.

The asphalt continues to dry, and by lap eight a dry line emerges. Max is now three seconds behind Norris, who in turn is three seconds behind his teammate in first. Tsunoda is the first to go in for a pitstop, switching from slicks to mediums. A domino effect starts – three more drivers go in for tyre changes, and are noticeably faster than those still toughing it out on slicks.

More drivers go in for tyre changes, including Max. Just as he’s about to exit his pit spot, the front wing of his Red Bull collides with the back wing of Antonelli’s Mercedes, who is just coming in. Antonelli acts quickly, pulling away from the pit crew, and driving another lap before properly changing his tyres. As a result, the polesitter is demoted to the midfield. Max is served a ten-second penalty as reprimand for an unsafe release.

Max, fighting severe damage to his wing after the collision, is overtaken by Lewis Hamilton for third place. Meanwhile Norris is the last driver to not yet have stopped for a tyre change. Fortuitously for the McLaren driver, Alonso’s car is tapped by Lawson, and he spins and crashes, but thankfully emerges from his car unharmed. A safety car is called out to the track. Norris is able to make a pit stop that allows him to just stay ahead of Piastri, and drive to victory behind the safety car.

Norris takes the sprint race win in Miami ahead of his McLaren teammate. Hamilton completes the podium. Max comes across the finish line in fourth, but his penalty demotes him to P17 – only ahead of the three drivers who were unable to finish the race.

Contest Miami GP: win a by Max Verstappen signed Red Bull Racing 2025 cap!

Results sprint race Miami: