Max Verstappen’s Miami Grand Prix nearly unraveled before it had truly begun – and for a split second, even the reigning champion thought it was over.
Instead, in a moment of instinct and control, the Red Bull driver turned what could have been a race-ending crash into one of the most dramatic saves of the season.
“Yeah, quite hectic,” he told reporters afterward – an understatement for a race that began with chaos and ended with solid points.
A split-second decision
The trouble began at Turn 2 on the opening lap, as Verstappen fought wheel-to-wheel with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Pushing hard for early track position, the Dutchman suddenly lost grip.
What followed was a breathtaking spin as cars streamed past him. For a brief moment, it seemed inevitable that he would hit the barriers, or worse, would be hit by an oncoming car.
“I lost the rear into Turn 2. Of course, I tried to minimise the time loss by doing a 360,” he explained.
“I thought I was going to crash, so I floored it and ended up doing a 360.”
But amid the drama, Verstappen accelerated – a counterintuitive move that allowed him to rotate cleanly and rejoin the race. Even he found humor in the audacity of it:
“So, if F1 doesn’t work out, I can always go rallying!”
Despite the proximity to Leclerc, Verstappen dismissed the idea that their battle triggered the spin.
“No, I don’t think,” he added. “We just pushed into the corner, but we just lost it, the rear started to slide and once it goes, with heavy fuel, it’s hard to catch.”
Recovery, strategy, and struggles
Dropping down the order, Verstappen fought back with aggressive overtakes and a bold early pit stop under the safety car. Initially, the recovery looked promising.
“After that, I think the pace was not too bad on the medium, but as soon as I switched to the hard compound it was just a lot more difficult,” he admitted.
That tyre choice ultimately defined his race. While he briefly cycled into the lead, the lack of grip on the harder compound cost him dearly.
“I think now after the race it’s easy to say, of course, but I think that stint was a bit too long.”
Late-race battles added further drama. Verstappen tandled with George Russell and hunted down a struggling Leclerc on the final lap.
“Yeah, I think out of Turn 1 he [Russell] clipped my rear tyre, so he picked up a bit of front wing damage. Luckily, I didn’t have a puncture, but that can happen.”
And on Leclerc: “Yeah, I think Charles’ car was broken,” he said. “So, he was bringing it to the end. I think he was using all the battery, like we all did, but for whatever reason I could just get him before the line.”
Signs of progress despite setbacks
Though he ultimately finished fifth – despite a post-race five-second penalty for crossing the pitlane exit line – Verstappen saw reasons for optimism. After a difficult start to the season, Red Bull’s upgrades showed promise in Miami.
“Yeah, at least I could race a bit more with those guys ahead,” he said about his improved car. “Unfortunately, the hard compound just didn’t seem to work all that well for us.”
The most noticeable improvement came in an area often overlooked by fans: steering.
“Just having a steering wheel that works,” he said. “Before, the steering wasn’t working, so clearly something wasn’t right. We’re getting there. We’re not the same [as Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes] yet.”
In the end, Verstappen’s Miami Grand Prix will be remembered less for the result and more for that opening-lap moment – a flash of instinct that turned disaster into survival.
It was a reminder that even at the pinnacle of Formula 1, sometimes the difference between crashing out and fighting on comes down to a single, fearless decision.
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