Both McLaren drivers had to find their way past Max Verstappen during the Miami Grand Prix, which was never going to be straightforward for either of them.
Lando Norris clashed with Verstappen at the start and accused his rival of risking a crash by forcing him off.Oscar Piastri was next to take up the cudgels and succeeded in prising the lead from Verstappen’s hands when the Red Bull driver locked up and ran wide at turn two.
When Norris caught Verstappen again, McLaren relayed details of how Piastri got past. But after parrying Norris’s attacks for several laps, Verstappen eventually relented and let him go.
Here’s how the fight played out lap-by-lap including some radio messages not broadcast on the world feed during the race.
Radio chatter: Verstappen vs Piastri and Norris
Verstappen and Norris made similar starts but the Red Bull driver ran deep at turn one. Norris drew fully alongside him as they rounded turn two but Verstappen’s car snapped sideways, prompting Norris to take evasive action by driving across the run-off.
That allowed Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Piastri, George Russell and Alexander Albon to get ahead of the front row starter, who accused Verstappen of deliberately forcing him off. The stewards chose not to investigate the incident.
| Lap: 1/57 NOR: 1’39.277, VER: 1’35.669 | |
| Norris | Yeah, he’s forced me off, mate. What am I meant to do, just drive into the wall or something? Like, I was completely alongside him, and I had to back out [unclear]. |
| Joseph | Understood, we’re reporting. |
| Norris | Yeah, but it’s common sense there. I’m in the wall, I’m fucking over the fence. I have to back out, because he’s going to crash into me. |
| Joseph | I know mate. It’s the only way he seems to drive. |
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Piastri quickly passed Antonelli and began to close on Verstappen. He asked his team whether the stewards had taken an interest in the first-lap incident:
| Lap: 4/57 PIA: 1’31.920, VER: 1’32.569 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | The car is very light in three on the rear. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Consider mid eight for that section. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Car behind is now Piastri. Gap 1.1. The push toggle would also effectively give you the same thing, Max, push toggle if easier. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 5/57 PIA: 1’32.282, VER: 1’32.133 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Piastri was 1.1 behind at the detection. So Max, torque also available for turn seven-eight, otherwise increasing diff mid and the push toggle will offset further. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 6/57 PIA: 1’32.047, VER: 1’32.096 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Piastri | Does Verstappen have damage or a penalty? | Lambiase | One click of the overtake please, Max. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stallard | Not yet, but they’re looking at it, Oscar, they are looking at the turn two incident. | Verstappen | Now? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stallard | The incident with Verstappen and Lando is noted. | Lambiase | Yes please, one click, Piastri 1.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 7/57 PIA: 1’32.197, VER: 1’32.083 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stallard | Verstappen and Lando, no further action, no action. | Lambiase | Gap is 1.2 Max | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | If the rain does hit the track, Max, it should be around lap 20. Gap is 1.4 behind. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Red Bull kept Verstappen appraised of when he was under attack from Piastri. Eventually the McLaren driver got a clean run at turn one and Verstappen asked slightly too much of his brakes:
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| Lap: 8/57 PIA: 1’31.985, VER: 1’32.583 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stallard | Strat seven, strat seven. | Lambiase | Just a reminder for turn three if you can. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stallard | Be careful with the correction turn two apex. | Lambiase | Also think about plus one on the offset if you need it Max. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Okay, gap one second and has DRS. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 9/57 PIA: 1’32.236, VER: 1’32.406 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | This [unclear] doesn’t work. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Understood. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | 0.7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Battery is full Max. Use it if you need it. Currently 0.8 behind. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 10/57 PIA: 1’32.076, VER: 1’32.392 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | That’s 0.7, 0.7. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | That’s a 0.6. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | 0.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 11/57 PIA: 1’32.900, VER: 1’32.595 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Accelerating out of turn eight Stay on the inside, Max, make him work for it. |
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| Lap: 12/57 PIA: 1’32.253, VER: 1’32.236 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stallard | Lando is the car behind, two and a half seconds. Rain lap 17 may miss the circuit, that mean rain lap 25 | Lambiase | 1.1. Does not have the RS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | Ah it’s super-slippery to drive. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Understood. That gap is 0.9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 13/57 PIA: 1’31.879, VER: 1’32.272 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Do you think you could manage plus one on the offset, Max? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | 0.7. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | 0.7. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 14/57 PIA: 1’32.986, VER: 1’34.727 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stallard | Piastri attacks Verstappen at turn one, who runs wide, and the McLaren passes Okay, good job Oscar, good patience, now we want plan A target plus five to get to the rain. |
Verstappen | Verstappen goes deep under braking at turn one and Piastri passes him Shit brakes, man, honestly. Useless. |
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| Lambiase | Okay car behind Norris at 0.8. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Once Piastri passed Verstappen, Norris was immediately on the Red Bull’s rear wing. McLaren advised Norris on how his team mate got by. However when Norris attempted a similar attack at turn one, Verstappen got his car slowed down inside and was able to pin his rival to the outside of the corner.
| Lap: 15/57 NOR: 1’33.943, VER: 1’33.736 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joseph | Lando, every move Oscar made, Max just covered the inside line and pushed him wide. Max complaining about his brakes. Try and force him to fuck up his braking. | Verstappen | Norris attacks Verstappen on the outside at turn one but is forced wide at the exit He was not ahead. |
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| Lambiase | All good. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | 0.7. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | And 0.6. When you can Max, front flap offset for the next stint. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | Yeah. I mean everything is just everywhere. It’s all over the shop. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 16/57 NOR: 1’33.099, VER: 1’33.178 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joseph | Suggest strat eight, strat eight. | Lambiase | And 0.6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verstappen | I can’t hold this much longer, the tyres are fucked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Copy Max, 0.6. There’s not really a pit window at the moment, mate. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Norris successfully got down the inside of Verstappen at turn 11 but neither made the corner. The McLaren driver quickly decided he should give up the place at turn 17, which he did, and Verstappen immediately pointed out his rival was not allowed to re-pass him at the next corner.
| Lap: 17/57 NOR: 1’34.855, VER: 1’34.857 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Norris | Norris passes Verstappen on the inside at turn 11 but runs over the white line at the exit That was hard to see, I think I was completely ahead, but I didn’t know if I went off the track or not. |
Lambiase | And 0.5. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joseph | Norris appears to back off approaching turn 17, and Verstappen passes him That was the right thing to do, we’re going to get it back. |
Verstappen | He went off the track. Can’t drive me off the track, so I need a position back. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Copy Max. Gap behind Antonelli 2.2. Norris lets Verstappen past at turn 17 |
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| Verstappen | Exiting turn 17 If he passes me now, that’s illegal. |
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| Lap: 18/57 NOR: 1’32.384, VER: 1’33.253 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joseph | Norris passes Verstappen, who does not defend at turn 11 Strat seven please, strat seven. |
Lambiase | That was 0.4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | Verstappen lets Norris pass him at turn 11 Okay, so gap behind to Antonelli, 1.8, his pace mid-32s. |
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| Lap: 20/57 NOR: 1’31.884, VER: 1’33.284 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lambiase | So plan at the moment or objective Max is to just edge the gap to Antonelli. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team radio transcripts
- ‘That’s not how I race’: Was Sainz right to feel aggrieved by Albon after Miami GP?
- Leclerc also criticised Ferrari over “stupid” strategy on radio
- “If he passes now that’s illegal”: Unheard radio from Verstappen vs the McLarens
- “Are the others struggling?” How Hamilton fell half a minute behind Leclerc in Jeddah
- ‘You’re the effective leader’: Full radio from Piastri and Verstappen’s Jeddah tussle
2025 Miami Grand Prix
- Albon did not disobey team orders in Miami says Vowles after Sainz’s complaint
- McLaren score their most emphatic win since Hamilton’s 2008 Silverstone triumph
- Mercedes bringing “more obvious” upgrades for first European races
- ‘It doesn’t matter much whether you finish third or fourth’ – Verstappen
- ‘That’s not how I race’: Was Sainz right to feel aggrieved by Albon after Miami GP?
BasCB (@bascb)
6th May 2025, 7:44
Thanks for these – this is interesting to see how it works. And it also shows that Lando actually managed to get past Verstappen pretty decently, although they both lost boatloads of time in that fight which impacted both races (in the end it dropped Max behind Russel with the VSC and Norris was unable to fully reduce that gap to attack Piastri)
bosyber (@bosyber)
6th May 2025, 11:34
Yep, interesting reading. The racing was great to see, and the times make clear that at that point Max was slower, but not by as much as the final race results make it look, so they had to actually fight.
I did think that in previous era’s we’d have more comments on how Max was not being strategically smart because his race ultimately wasn’t with the McLarens but with Russell for the last podium spot. And for the championship, now he just made sure that the rival that’s furthest ahead in the WDC, Piastri, increased his lead more than needed and that he himself lost more than needed, including to the guy just behind him in the standings (though George Russell probably isn’t really in the WDC fight, if they have more races like this he might overtake Max).
Biggsy
6th May 2025, 9:54
Max being allowed to get away with that first corner “twitch” is one of the reasons why wheel-to-wheel racing is becoming worse and worse.
Imagine how interesting that sequence of corners could have been if they actually raced alongside each other for longer.
The way it is with this kind of forcing people off the track, every duel ends on the first corner exit. It can’t last more than one corner, because people like Max push people off as soon as they get a chance.
And if it was a genuine mistake and loss of control, then punish him still, because it still resulted in crowding another driver off the track and forcing them to take an evasive action, despite being fully alongside.
Pikachugodx
6th May 2025, 10:06
You are obviously new to racing. I recommend you to watch old races.
Jan of Holland
6th May 2025, 12:41
What is this love for Max all about? Let’s face it he has been cutting people up at corners since he started. He has got away with murder when other drivers have been penalised. This drive headlong into a corner, to be first there, is his tactic whilst breaking very late is dangerous – he just doesn’t care what happens. The rule needs changing to prevent it from continuing.
I see him determined to win at all costs. Why? What did his dad do to create such a bully?
Roy Ruddy
6th May 2025, 17:22
What’s with this love of anyone else.
SteveP
6th May 2025, 18:51
Taught him to be like his father; most fathers do, but sometimes it’s not a good track to follow.
Ferdi
7th May 2025, 7:34
It is matter of perception and perspective. It is about what people think F1 is and what racing should entail. Ever since the 2010-2021 processional racing era, the idea of what F1 should be has shifted from the old racing to the new racing so to say, which is more based on courtesy and race pace. During this era the leaders where given free passes because of their huge advantage over the rest of the field. Or they simply left from pole to never be seen again by the rest of the field. Wheel to wheel action slowed down to an extent artificial aids like drs were needed to create some kind of viewer worthy races. Defending was rarely seen as it was a technological competition and less a drivers skills competition.
Max put an end to that era and restored what F1 used to be. I personally feel he gets way too much penalties and they are motivated by other interest than the racing situation that actually should be judged. So I get your point but there is also a large fan base that feels we should have 20 Max’ on the grid and let them race.
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
8th May 2025, 0:13
No Max was given a car that was much much faster than everyone else. and he was given far more leeway to run people off the track and behave like an entitled brat so a newer/younger demographic of the ‘beta’ personality type could cling to his image. Idol worship 101.
F1 used to be about innovation, but these days it’s about doing what you are told, and letting certain people get away with everything because that’s whats good for the stakeholders. And teams don’t really compete against each other anymore, because it’s just one big money grab.
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
8th May 2025, 0:15
No, F1 isn’t about competition anymore. It’s about stakeholder interests. or What the politicians in the states call ‘stakeholder capitalism’. It’s about what the owners want. Not about small teams competing and risking it all, and truly innovating. That went away a long time ago, a long long time ago. It’s just gotten a lot worse since the likes of Toto and the V6 hybrid.
Coventry Climax
6th May 2025, 13:47
Not sure that’s sound advice: He may never want to watch modern F1 again. ;-)
Bruno Alves
6th May 2025, 14:07
Piastri left no space on the outside for Verstappen and Antonelli at the first corner in Jeddah and Miami sprint, but sure, the move Max put on Lando in Miami is “one of the reasons why wheel-to-wheel racing is becoming worse and worse”…
Ferdi
7th May 2025, 9:03
This! That bias is so strong that people actually think it is the norm. And the worst part is that they do not even notice that they are being played by the media into this line of thinking. As a more neutral F1 fan for decades it is quite worrying to see. Misinformed, led on by the media flocks of sheep mimicking what they are being fed.
Ricardo
6th May 2025, 14:11
You might want to check out turn 1 of last race where PIA pushed VER out, FIA driver guidelines decided that the driver on the inside can push out anyone on the outside as long as they’re wheel to wheel.
It’s stupid, but nothing max did this race -or oscar last race – is against the rules, and more drivers will catch on it and do the same.
BMW P85 V10
6th May 2025, 20:03
Antonelli made sure he will adopt this way of racing, because it’s allowed and the only way to defend/ gain places.
Defending has been made easy, give your opponent the outside, make sure to be equal or in front at the apex and make sure you make the corner within the white lines.
Jojo
6th May 2025, 14:49
Verstappen had the inside and Norris hadn’t really done enough to earn the space (as far as the current rules are written). It was the same for Kimi in the sprint, when he was fully alongside Piastri in turn 1 and Piastri on the inside forced him off. It’s within the current rules.
Matthijs (@matthijs)
6th May 2025, 12:39
In hindsight Verstappen should not have defend from the McLarens that hard and lose time in the process, since we now know that the McLarens would finish with 30+ seconds lead.
But at the time when Verstappen was defending his leading position, there was a realistic chance of rain and then the race would have unfolded totally different. In wet conditions track position is very important due to visibility so I can imagine that Verstappen was defending his position.
osnola
6th May 2025, 15:33
Its a pity McLaren seems to support the moaning about “pushed me off” situations Norris often creates by driving on the outside without knowing the rules there..
Intelligent driving, like Piastri stil is a weak point for Norris.
But to be fair.. it took Piastri a lot more laps to pass compared with Norris.
Max knew the rain would pass and decided fighting was not the smart thing to do any longer..
Brilliant defending and smart driving..
Piastri seems to learn, but lando….
Edvaldo
6th May 2025, 16:26
Different contexts. Piastri had the time to deal with Max with patience and not fall in his games, also it was earlier in the stint so Max’s tyres were in better shape, so even if it did take him longer, he didn’t lose too much time. You can see that because Norris, who had a clear track ahead of him, only joined them after Piastri was through.
Norris had to deal with it quickly as Piastri was pulling away and by going off track a number of times and giving the position back once, he lost those 10 secs in just few laps and the race was lost.
Ferdi
7th May 2025, 9:08
I agree on the long term outlook for Piastri vs Lando that the latter doesn’t have the total package needed to become a WDC. Now let’s hope for McLaren’s sake they timely understand they have to back Piastri in any 1 to 1 with Lando to get both championship. This socially responsible behavior which is only displayed because it is good for public opinion but not for achieving your goals should really end or they will miss out on the WDC again.
Leo B
6th May 2025, 16:57
Piastri’s pass on Max in Miami shows that the debate about who is the leading driver at McLaren his done and dusted.
Meanwhile Norris, by contrast, whines, sulks, gets instructions about how to pass and still fails to do it. But he is neck and neck with Piastri on speed in Q3.
Alonslow
6th May 2025, 17:48
Yep, Oscar even last year pulled off really great overtaking, you could say his racing skill was better than Lando but his race speed and specially his qualy speed was well down, he really upped his game this year his race and qualy speed is pretty much on par with Lando and he is definitely more consistent in the races, if he was just a tenth faster overall there would be no question to who will be the WDC this year.
Dex
6th May 2025, 18:48
We have to remember that this is only Oscar’s third season in F1. He was a novice last year and a rookie the year before. While Lando is in his sixth year.
Ferdi
7th May 2025, 9:11
Agreed, I think there is no more debate on who is the leading McLaren driver. The sooner McLaren itself is radically candid about it, the more chance they have on getting both championships.
Josie Craik wilson
7th May 2025, 11:12
Its not nice to say that to anyone