VERSTAPPEN VS NORRIS: FIREWORKS BUT NO VILLAIN

The Miami Grand Prix delivered one of the most intense moments of the season so far, once again showcasing the growing rivalry between Verstappen and the McLarens. Aside from Bahrain, every race in 2025 has featured an on-track showdown between the Dutchman and the papaya-colored cars. In Miami, just like in Jeddah, the battle ignited right from the start—and it’s been a talking point ever since.

At lights out, Norris chose the outside line for Turn 1, while Verstappen braked late and ran wide. Lando attempted a switchback and was nearly fully alongside as they approached the direction change into Turn 2. That’s when Max suddenly veered right, forcing Norris to make a snap correction to avoid contact—running well over the high outside curb in the process. Onboard footage clearly shows Lando reacting to avoid the Red Bull, and he did so with impressive reflexes.

The view from Antonelli’s Mercedes is even more revealing: Verstappen was off-line with Norris drawing alongside, yet Max still pushed hard into the corner without leaving space on the outside. Had Norris not instinctively steered away, contact would’ve been inevitable—likely sending him straight into the wall. Would the stewards have written that off as a "racing incident"? Hard to believe.

That said, the decision not to penalize Verstappen is understandable: his movement to the right seems more like a brief loss of rear grip than a deliberate block. Still, that snap happened because he chose to go full-throttle into Turn 2 despite poor positioning. So yes, no penalty makes sense—but blaming Norris? That’s a stretch. Some have even suggested he “fell into Verstappen’s trap.” But seriously—what was he supposed to do? Back off? It’s the start of a Grand Prix. Max overshoots, Lando goes for the cutback. That’s racing.

Some argue Norris could’ve waited, considering how strong his car was. But with a pack of drivers behind him ready to pounce, waiting patiently wasn’t an option. And comparing it to Piastri’s pass doesn't hold up—Oscar had time on his side. Lando didn’t. He knew his teammate was just two seconds up the road and couldn’t afford to let him get away.

Earlier in the race, Verstappen had already made a rare error by overcooking it into Turn 1. Against Norris, he managed to hold him off for four laps—during which Lando lost nearly eight seconds. And those seconds ultimately cost Max a podium, let’s not forget.

As always, Verstappen fought with grit and smarts. But it's worth noting he never even attempted to attack Russell, who was nursing heavily worn medium tires. So sure, Norris wasn’t flawless—but he wasn’t to blame either. As he himself put it: “If I don’t attack, I get criticized. If I do attack, I still get criticized.”

Meanwhile, no one’s said a word about Leclerc’s pretty soft defense against Sainz. One dummy move was enough for the Spaniard to dive down the inside into Turn 1. Yet we keep hearing that Leclerc is the only one who can challenge Verstappen in wheel-to-wheel combat. Really? Maybe in 2019...

© Simone Marchetti Cavalieri

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