Max Verstappen’s dramatic 360-degree spin at Miami Grand Prix
Max Verstappen showcased his remarkable driving skills during the Miami Grand Prix with a stunning 360-degree spin that ultimately saved his race, reports BritPanorama.
The four-time world champion started from second place but quickly found himself struggling after the incident. After attempting an aggressive overtaking manoeuvre against pole-sitter Kimi Antonelli, Verstappen overshot his braking point, colliding with Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari as it passed beneath him at turn two.
The ensuing spin left Verstappen within a cloud of tyre smoke, causing him to tumble down the order as he fell into the midfield. “I thought I was going to crash, so I floored it, and I managed to do a good 360,” he recounted, lightheartedly adding, “so yeah, if Formula One doesn’t work out, I can always go rallying.”
Reflecting on the event, he expressed concern about the incident, stating, “Bit of a shame, of course, what happened in turn two. I lost the rear, and then I tried to recover or minimise the damage by doing that 360.” He later noted, “I pushed into the corner, and just lost something, the rear just started to slide, and once it goes with the heavy fuel, it is hard to catch.”
Williams driver Carlos Sainz, not as impressed with Verstappen’s aggressive recovery drive, aired his criticisms via team radio, saying, “He thinks he can do whatever he likes just because he’s racing the midfield.” Despite completing an impressive comeback performance, Verstappen was handed a five-second time penalty for crossing the pit lane white line post-race. This did not affect his fifth-place finish as Lewis Hamilton, who was pushed to sixth, was upheld by Leclerc’s subsequent penalty.
Verstappen’s spirited effort, however, earned him the title of driver of the day from the fans. Meanwhile, Lando Norris, who finished second, expressed optimism going into the next race in Montreal, saying, “I am certainly confident about the future. We improved so much this weekend.”
The unpredictability of the Miami Grand Prix served not only as a reminder of Verstappen’s talent but also highlighted the competitive tension in F1, where skill and luck often intertwine in the most unexpected ways.
