Lando Norris didn’t hold back in his criticism of Max Verstappen following a tense battle during the opening lap of the Miami Grand Prix, accusing the reigning champion of leaving drivers with two choices: crash or back off.
The McLaren driver, who started alongside Verstappen on the front row, was pushed off-track in turn one while trying to challenge the Red Bull driver for the lead. As Verstappen’s RB21 struggled for grip, Norris was forced to take evasive action to avoid contact and the barriers, dropping him to sixth.
Despite the setback, Norris mounted a strong recovery, eventually finishing second in a chaotic race that saw his teammate Oscar Piastri take victory—his fourth win of the season. Verstappen, who locked up and lost position to Piastri later in the race, ended up off the podium.
Reflecting on the incident, Norris voiced his frustration with Verstappen’s approach to wheel-to-wheel racing.
“Max put up a good fight as always and I paid the price, but it’s the way it is,” Norris said after the race. “If I don’t go for it, people complain. If I do go for it, people still complain—so you can’t win.
With Max, it’s crash or don’t pass. Unless you absolutely nail it and get him in the perfect position, it’s nearly impossible. I didn’t do a good enough job today, but I’m still happy with P2.”
A Familiar Rivalry Reignited
The clash at Miami marks another chapter in the ongoing rivalry between Norris and Verstappen, which was a major storyline in the 2024 season. The pair previously exchanged sharp words over on-track conduct during battles in Austria, Austin, and Mexico.
While Verstappen claimed the 2024 title, the start of the 2025 season has seen McLaren’s Oscar Piastri emerge as the dominant force. Piastri now leads the drivers’ standings by 16 points over Norris, with Verstappen trailing by 32 points in his bid to equal the record of five consecutive world championships.
Although Verstappen continues to be a formidable competitor, his aggressive style is once again under scrutiny—especially as his rivals grow bolder in their title pursuits.