Lando Norris Criticizes Max Verstappen for “Ruining His Own Race” After… Read more
Lando Norris took a critical stance against Max Verstappen following a heated on-track battle at the 2025 Miami Grand Prix, suggesting that the reigning world champion sabotaged his own chances with overly aggressive tactics. The race saw plenty of drama between the two drivers, especially during the opening stages and later during a tense multi-lap duel.
At the race start, Norris, who began near the front, found himself squeezed off the track at Turn 2 by Verstappen, who had started from pole position. The McLaren driver was forced to take evasive action, dropping down to sixth place as a result. Norris expressed frustration at the move, claiming Verstappen pushed too hard and compromised both their races.
Despite the early setback, Norris mounted a strong recovery. He overtook Alex Albon of Williams, then moved past both Mercedes drivers—George Russell and rookie Kimi Antonelli—to climb back into contention. Ahead of him, Verstappen was embroiled in a battle with Norris’ teammate, Oscar Piastri, for the race lead. After a mistake from Verstappen, Piastri seized the opportunity to take first place.
As Verstappen dropped back, he found himself fending off Norris in a fierce wheel-to-wheel contest that spanned several laps. Eventually, the Red Bull driver backed off, allowing Norris to pass more easily. However, the intense fight had already cost them both valuable time, enabling Piastri to build a commanding nine-second lead.
Verstappen’s prolonged defense also impacted his pit strategy. By the time the only round of pit stops was completed, he had rejoined the race behind Russell, further diminishing his chances for a podium finish.
Norris didn’t hold back in his post-race comments, pointing to Verstappen’s decision-making as a major factor in the Dutchman’s downfall. “He ruined his own race,” said Norris. “He’s not racing very smart. He probably could have finished third today, and he didn’t because of that. He’s fighting hard, as always expected, but that’s the way it is.”
While Verstappen brushed off the incident, stating that his defense on the opening lap was “all good,” he expressed more concern about Red Bull’s lack of pace compared to the McLarens. His inability to maintain the lead or mount a strong comeback after pit stops highlighted the growing challenge posed by McLaren’s improving performance.
The result had implications for the Drivers’ Championship, with Norris now 16 points behind teammate Piastri. As the McLaren duo rises in form, tensions are clearly mounting—not just between rivals, but within teams vying for supremacy.
