Max Verstappen criticises Lewis Hamilton after Miami Grand Prix sprint race
Max Verstappen has criticised Lewis Hamilton for costing them valuable time during an unusual position exchange in Saturday’s Miami Grand Prix sprint race, reports BritPanorama.
The Red Bull driver was ordered to surrender sixth place after passing the Ferrari off the circuit, but Hamilton’s hesitation in reclaiming the spot left Verstappen exasperated. “I had to let him by, but he doesn’t come by, so we lose four seconds because he just stays behind me,” Verstappen told media afterwards. “That’s where we wasted our time. I don’t know what else I could have done there, so that’s a bit of a shame.”
The flashpoint occurred on the eighth lap when Verstappen launched an aggressive manoeuvre at Turn 11, forcing both drivers off the track as he attempted to seize sixth position. Following instructions to relinquish the place, the Dutchman opted not to defend approaching the final corner, deliberately running wide at Turn 17 to allow Hamilton through. Yet the seven-time world champion declined to immediately accept the invitation, only moving past as they exited the turn.
Verstappen was seen gesturing at Hamilton during the exchange, making his displeasure evident before eventually completing a cleaner overtake at the same corner on the following lap. The four-time world champion crossed the line in sixth position but was elevated to fifth after Andrea Kimi Antonelli received a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits. It marked Verstappen’s first top-five finish of the 2026 season in a sprint race.
Despite his frustration with the Hamilton incident, the Dutchman acknowledged his pace improved once he found clear air. “After that, once I was in clear air, the pace was actually quite okay,” he said. However, he remained candid about the work still required, noting that his Red Bull continued to struggle with grip issues through slower sections of the circuit. Verstappen’s difficulties extended beyond the Hamilton battle, revealing technical problems that hampered his race from the outset. “The start was again not good, there was something similar to China that happened,” he explained. “And then after that, out of the last corner on lap one, I had no battery release, so that was making it a lot more difficult for me.” The RB22 also exhibited handling deficiencies that concerned the Dutchman. “The car is still not where I want it to be, and also in the low-speed corners the car is jumping a lot, which is a bit awkward,” Verstappen admitted, while acknowledging significant development remains necessary.
In racing, as in life, timing is everything. In a sport defined by speed and precision, the margins are razor-thin, and moments like these not only shape races but define reputations. One miscalculated decision and the trajectory of the season can shift dramatically; both men know it well. With the championship in mind, how their rivalry unfolds now becomes essential, a palpable reminder of the thin line that separates collaboration from competition.
