Lando Norris didn’t hold back in his criticism of Max Verstappen’s robust defence of his lead in the opening lap of the 2025 F1 Miami GP, saying the Dutchman’s “crash or that’s it” approach makes it “pretty difficult” to race against the four-time world champion.
Norris started from second on the grid and didn’t look like challenging Verstappen into turn one. But a lock-up for the Red Bull presented the McLaren the impetus and the opportunity to go for a switch back around the outside of turn two, which was aggressively cut-off by the reigning champion, as he shoved Norris swiftly off the circuit.
The Briton lost several positions as a result of his latest on-track run-in with Verstappen, following several key battles in 2024 and earlier this season. He dropped down to sixth, but eventually recovered his way up to second.
“Pretty difficult” to go up against “crash or that’s it” approach from Verstappen
Norris’ opinion on the lap one incident is clear, as the McLaren F1 driver showed his disappointment with Verstappen’s all-or-nothing approach in the Miami GP, which meant he had to choose between crashing there and then, or backing out and living to fight for another day:
“I’ve got to review it,” he said. “I gave it a shot. If I didn’t back out, and tried to look like a hero, I would’ve ended up in the wall and over the fence.
“So I made the decision that I had to make, because it’s a ‘crash or that’s it’. And it’s pretty difficult to go up against that kind of competition.
“I did what I thought was right at the time, there was a gap, I got the momentum, I was easily on the outside, I had the space, and that’s it.”
Verstappen “can do whatever he wants”
The incident between the pair was noted by the stewards at the time, but no further action was taken. Norris added that Verstappen can do “whatever he wants“, and defended that given the chance again, he wouldn’t do anything differently in the situation:
“Nothing,” Norris told Sky Sports F1 when asked what he’d do differently on lap 1. “Well, there’s a gap, I’ve got to go for it. I’m not going to back out. I’m here to race.
“Oscar got past him, I got past him. We both got past him – you’ve just got to be in the perfect place.
“In the end, he just let me go. He didn’t even put up a fight at the end.
“So it just depends how much he wants to fight you. He’s Max, he’s doing a good job, he can do whatever he wants.”
Progress with the car means it was still a “positive” weekend
On a more positive note, Norris noted how his overall pace and confidence in the McLaren F1 car was much improved in the Miami GP compared to recent races, although he believes improvements in qualifying will be the key for success going forward:
“It’s still been a very good weekend for me,” he said. “I’m happy with my progress, I felt more comfortable in the car once again.
“[There’s] still things I need to make progress on. I’m still not in the happiest, most perfect place – and I got to be there if I want to qualify at the front and perform against these other guys.
“I’m performing against the best, so [I’ll] just keep chipping away.”
Second place in the race meant Norris lost a further seven points to his team-mate and driect championship rival Oscar Piastri – and the Briton didn’t shy away from the fact that second is “not what he wants” from his good weekends:
“It’s been a positive weekend, pace was very strong – it was yesterday, and it was today. Just these little things have got in the way, but that happens, so I’m still happy.
“It’s not the position that I want, of course,” he added. “I’m here to try and fight for a win and then go for a win, but [there’s] always next time.”
After the Miami GP, Norris Still sits second in the F1 world championship, now 16 points back from his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, who leads the way on 131 points.
