Max Verstappen has dismissed criticism from Carlos Sainz Jr. following their on-track clash in the early stages of the Miami Grand Prix, describing the midfield battle as “a bit of a jungle.”
It all started to unravel within seconds of lights out.
Max Verstappen, who began from the front row, lost control at Turn 2 while battling Charles Leclerc. The spin dropped him out of contention at the front and straight into the unpredictable midfield pack, where margins are tighter and patience thinner.
That’s where things got messy.
By the end of Lap 1, Max Verstappen had already begun his recovery drive. He went aggressive, diving up the inside of Sainz in a tight wheel-to-wheel moment. It was the kind of move that either works perfectly or ends in contact. This time, it just about held together, but not without consequences.
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Carlos Sainz was clearly not impressed.
“I probably had one of the best starts of the year and had amazing momentum into Turn 1, and Max in front of me had the spin, so I had to back off,” he said.
“People were racing really hard, and I don’t know why; they woke up wanting to crash. Many people were out there, but I kept out of trouble, and once the race settled, I picked up one by one and pulled away to finish P9. I am happy with that; it was a solid race.”
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Carlos Sainz criticized Max Verstappen’s Move
He then pointed directly at Max Verstappen’s move.
“No disrespect, but what [Max] did in Turn 17 was almost like a launch, knowing that because we’re in the midfield, we are not going to fight him and we’re going to have to let him by at some point.”
“It was possibly a bit of frustration with the spin and trying to get back to the front as soon as possible, but I mean, it is racing.”
“I’m not going to criticise it, it is just that at that point, I felt like we were going to crash, and he took me off track, and I lost three positions.”
Max Verstappen’s Straight Reply
When asked for his response, Max Verstappen kept it short and didn’t exactly dial down the tone.
“I don’t know, it is a bit of a jungle in the midfield, so I don’t know what to say.”
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The exchange sums up the contrast in perspectives. For Carlos Sainz, it was a move that crossed into unnecessary risk. For Verstappen, it was just part of the chaos that comes with fighting through the pack after an early setback.
It also highlights something bigger about modern Formula 1. When a front-runner drops into the midfield, the dynamic changes instantly.
Also Read: Miami Grand Prix: Kimi Antonelli Edges Lando Norris in Thriller, Shakes Up Title Race
