Max Verstappen's hopes for a podium finish at the Miami Grand Prix were dashed as he crossed the line in fourth place on May 5, 2025. The race, held at the Miami International Autodrome, was dominated by Oscar Piastri, who claimed victory, followed closely by his McLaren teammate Lando Norris and Mercedes driver George Russell.
Verstappen, the reigning four-time World Champion, faced a challenging race filled with intense battles, particularly with the McLaren duo. Reflecting on his performance, he stated, "It just wasn’t good enough. Zero chance. I did try a bit with the McLarens of course. I didn’t have much to lose, so I thought I might as well have a bit of fun. There wasn’t much more I could do with it." The Dutchman acknowledged the impact of the virtual safety car (VSC) that played a crucial role in the race's dynamics, saying, "The Virtual Safety Car coming out, well, that can happen. Doesn’t really matter whether you finish third or fourth here. That’s not why I’m here."
The Miami Grand Prix started at 4 PM local time, with the drivers lining up on medium tires, except for George Russell, who opted for a hard compound starting from P5. Verstappen had a strong start, but a slight lock-up into the first corner allowed Norris to make a move. However, a minor touch between the two forced Norris to drop several positions, ultimately falling back to sixth place.
As the race unfolded, Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes seized the opportunity to move into second place. Unfortunately for Alpine's Jack Doohan, his race ended prematurely after a collision with Liam Lawson, triggering the first VSC of the day. Following the VSC, Piastri made a swift move, overtaking Antonelli for second place and then Verstappen for the lead on lap fourteen.
Verstappen's struggles continued as Norris joined the battle, overtaking him cleanly on lap seventeen after a brief tussle. From that point on, the McLarens began to pull away, leaving Verstappen to contend with the Mercedes drivers behind him, including Russell, who had been quietly making his way up the grid.
During the race, Verstappen faced further challenges, including a slow pit stop for Antonelli and multiple VSC phases triggered by retirements from Oliver Bearman and Gabriel Bortoleto due to technical issues. Under the VSC conditions, Piastri, Norris, Russell, and Charles Leclerc all took advantage of the slower pace to pit, with Russell benefiting the most and rejoining just ahead of Verstappen.
Despite the setbacks, Verstappen managed to keep Russell within a five-second gap, stating, "I couldn’t follow closely. As soon as I tried to push a bit more, the tyres got too hot and I couldn’t attack. So at one point I thought, forget it. I kept it within five seconds, but I also thought, I’ll just bring it home." His concerns about the car's brakes and balance were evident as he noted, "It’s something that’s been an issue more often, so we need to work on that."
As the race neared its conclusion, Verstappen began to close the gap to Russell, dipping under the two-second mark for the first time on lap 43. However, he was unable to mount a serious challenge and ultimately finished fourth, 39.956 seconds behind Piastri, who took the win.
The final results saw Piastri extend his lead in the championship standings with his fourth victory of the season. Norris secured second place, while Russell rounded out the podium. Verstappen's fourth-place finish leaves him with 12 points from this race, a disappointing outcome for the Red Bull driver.
In the closing moments of the race, Carlos Sainz made a last-ditch attempt to overtake Lewis Hamilton for eighth place. The two made contact, but Hamilton managed to hold onto his position, finishing eighth overall. Meanwhile, Verstappen's teammate Yuki Tsunoda picked up a five-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane, but still managed to finish in the points.
After the race, Verstappen expressed his respect for Piastri’s driving style, saying, "It’s good to see," and acknowledged the fierce competition he faced from the McLaren drivers. As the season progresses, the championship battle intensifies, and Verstappen will be looking to bounce back in the next race.
The Miami Grand Prix results highlighted the competitive nature of the current F1 season, with Piastri's performance solidifying his position as a serious contender for the championship. As teams prepare for the next round, fans can expect more thrilling battles on the track.
