Breaking:Max Verstappen tells Piastri should ‘expect’ payback after… read more
During the 2025 Miami Grand Prix, a heated on-track rivalry between Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri reignited, drawing attention back to a controversial incident that unfolded earlier in the season at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Verstappen hinted that his aggressive racing against Piastri in Miami was payback for their earlier clash.
At the start of the Miami race, Verstappen managed to fend off McLaren’s Lando Norris to seize the lead, but Norris quickly fell back to sixth. However, the McLaren team proved incredibly fast throughout the race, and soon, Verstappen found himself defending his position against Oscar Piastri, who was closing in rapidly. As conditions became more challenging due to a slippery track surface, Verstappen voiced his struggle over the team radio, but that did little to halt Piastri’s momentum.
By Lap 14, Piastri pulled off a bold move on Verstappen, going around the outside into Turn 1. Verstappen tried to brake late to defend his position but overshot the corner, ran wide, and allowed Piastri to take the lead cleanly. This wheel-to-wheel battle brought back memories of their Saudi Arabian GP clash. In that race, Verstappen was on the outside at the start and was forced off-track by Piastri. He rejoined the track ahead of the McLaren but was slapped with a five-second time penalty. That penalty ultimately cost him the race win, as Piastri went on to finish first.
Following the Miami GP, Verstappen spoke to Viaplay and implied that his firm defense in Miami was in response to what happened in Saudi Arabia. “After Saudi Arabia, I think he could expect that, of course,” Verstappen said, making it clear that there was unfinished business between the two.
Although Verstappen did his best to fend off the McLarens, he admitted that he had no real chance of staying ahead. “It just wasn’t good enough,” he said. “0.0 chance.” He added that he took some risks battling the McLarens because he had nothing to lose and wanted to make the most of a difficult race.
Later in the race, Verstappen seemed poised for a podium finish until a Virtual Safety Car was deployed to recover Oliver Bearman’s stranded Haas. This allowed Mercedes’ George Russell to make a quick pit stop and rejoin the track ahead of Verstappen, dropping the Red Bull driver to fourth. Verstappen acknowledged the timing was unfortunate but downplayed the difference between finishing third or fourth.
Still, Verstappen didn’t hold back his disappointment, emphasizing that such results don’t meet his expectations: “That’s not what I’m here for.” His comments reflect growing tension within Red Bull and signal that both Verstappen and his team will be eager to regain their dominance in upcoming races.
