Both McLaren drivers had to find their way past Max Verstappen during the Miami Grand Prix, which was never going to be straightforward for either of them.
Lando Norris clashed with Verstappen at the start and accused his rival of risking a crash by forcing him off.
Oscar Piastri was next to take up the cudgels and succeeded in prising the lead from Verstappen’s hands when the Red Bull driver locked up and ran wide at turn two.
When Norris caught Verstappen again, McLaren relayed details of how Piastri got past. But after parrying Norris’s attacks for several laps, Verstappen eventually relented and let him go.
Here’s how the fight played out lap-by-lap including some radio messages not broadcast on the world feed during the race.
Radio chatter: Verstappen vs Piastri and Norris
Verstappen and Norris made similar starts but the Red Bull driver ran deep at turn one. Norris drew fully alongside him as they rounded turn two but Verstappen’s car snapped sideways, prompting Norris to take evasive action by driving across the run-off.
That allowed Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Piastri, George Russell and Alexander Albon to get ahead of the front row starter, who accused Verstappen of deliberately forcing him off. The stewards chose not to investigate the incident.
| Lap: 1/57 NOR: 1’39.277, VER: 1’35.669 |
| Norris |
Yeah, he’s forced me off, mate. What am I meant to do, just drive into the wall or something? Like, I was completely alongside him, and I had to back out [unclear]. |
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| Joseph |
Understood, we’re reporting. |
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| Norris |
Yeah, but it’s common sense there. I’m in the wall, I’m fucking over the fence. I have to back out, because he’s going to crash into me. |
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| Joseph |
I know mate. It’s the only way he seems to drive. |
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Piastri quickly passed Antonelli and began to close on Verstappen. He asked his team whether the stewards had taken an interest in the first-lap incident:
| Lap: 4/57 PIA: 1’31.920, VER: 1’32.569 |
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Verstappen |
The car is very light in three on the rear. |
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Lambiase |
Consider mid eight for that section. |
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Lambiase |
Car behind is now Piastri. Gap 1.1. The push toggle would also effectively give you the same thing, Max, push toggle if easier. |
| Lap: 5/57 PIA: 1’32.282, VER: 1’32.133 |
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Lambiase |
Piastri was 1.1 behind at the detection. So Max, torque also available for turn seven-eight, otherwise increasing diff mid and the push toggle will offset further. |
| Lap: 6/57 PIA: 1’32.047, VER: 1’32.096 |
| Piastri |
Does Verstappen have damage or a penalty? |
Lambiase |
One click of the overtake please, Max. |
| Stallard |
Not yet, but they’re looking at it, Oscar, they are looking at the turn two incident. |
Verstappen |
Now? |
| Stallard |
The incident with Verstappen and Lando is noted. |
Lambiase |
Yes please, one click, Piastri 1.1 |
| Lap: 7/57 PIA: 1’32.197, VER: 1’32.083 |
| Stallard |
Verstappen and Lando, no further action, no action. |
Lambiase |
Gap is 1.2 Max |
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Lambiase |
If the rain does hit the track, Max, it should be around lap 20. Gap is 1.4 behind. |
Red Bull kept Verstappen appraised of when he was under attack from Piastri. Eventually the McLaren driver got a clean run at turn one and Verstappen asked slightly too much of his brakes:
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| Lap: 8/57 PIA: 1’31.985, VER: 1’32.583 |
| Stallard |
Strat seven, strat seven. |
Lambiase |
Just a reminder for turn three if you can. |
| Stallard |
Be careful with the correction turn two apex. |
Lambiase |
Also think about plus one on the offset if you need it Max. |
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Lambiase |
Okay, gap one second and has DRS. |
| Lap: 9/57 PIA: 1’32.236, VER: 1’32.406 |
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Verstappen |
This [unclear] doesn’t work. |
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Lambiase |
Understood. |
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Lambiase |
0.7 |
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Lambiase |
Battery is full Max. Use it if you need it. Currently 0.8 behind. |
| Lap: 10/57 PIA: 1’32.076, VER: 1’32.392 |
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Lambiase |
That’s 0.7, 0.7. |
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Lambiase |
That’s a 0.6. |
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Lambiase |
0.5 |
| Lap: 11/57 PIA: 1’32.900, VER: 1’32.595 |
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Lambiase |
Accelerating out of turn eight
Stay on the inside, Max, make him work for it. |
| Lap: 12/57 PIA: 1’32.253, VER: 1’32.236 |
| Stallard |
Lando is the car behind, two and a half seconds. Rain lap 17 may miss the circuit, that mean rain lap 25 |
Lambiase |
1.1. Does not have the RS |
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Verstappen |
Ah it’s super-slippery to drive. |
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Lambiase |
Understood. That gap is 0.9 |
| Lap: 13/57 PIA: 1’31.879, VER: 1’32.272 |
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Lambiase |
Do you think you could manage plus one on the offset, Max? |
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Lambiase |
0.7. |
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Lambiase |
0.7. |
| Lap: 14/57 PIA: 1’32.986, VER: 1’34.727 |
| Stallard |
Piastri attacks Verstappen at turn one, who runs wide, and the McLaren passes
Okay, good job Oscar, good patience, now we want plan A target plus five to get to the rain. |
Verstappen |
Verstappen goes deep under braking at turn one and Piastri passes him
Shit brakes, man, honestly. Useless. |
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Lambiase |
Okay car behind Norris at 0.8. |
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Once Piastri passed Verstappen, Norris was immediately on the Red Bull’s rear wing. McLaren advised Norris on how his team mate got by. However when Norris attempted a similar attack at turn one, Verstappen got his car slowed down inside and was able to pin his rival to the outside of the corner.
| Lap: 15/57 NOR: 1’33.943, VER: 1’33.736 |
| Joseph |
Lando, every move Oscar made, Max just covered the inside line and pushed him wide. Max complaining about his brakes. Try and force him to fuck up his braking. |
Verstappen |
Norris attacks Verstappen on the outside at turn one but is forced wide at the exit
He was not ahead. |
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Lambiase |
All good. |
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Lambiase |
0.7. |
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Lambiase |
And 0.6. When you can Max, front flap offset for the next stint. |
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Verstappen |
Yeah. I mean everything is just everywhere. It’s all over the shop. |
| Lap: 16/57 NOR: 1’33.099, VER: 1’33.178 |
| Joseph |
Suggest strat eight, strat eight. |
Lambiase |
And 0.6 |
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Verstappen |
I can’t hold this much longer, the tyres are fucked. |
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Lambiase |
Copy Max, 0.6. There’s not really a pit window at the moment, mate. |
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Norris successfully got down the inside of Verstappen at turn 11 but neither made the corner. The McLaren driver quickly decided he should give up the place at turn 17, which he did, and Verstappen immediately pointed out his rival was not allowed to re-pass him at the next corner.
| Lap: 17/57 NOR: 1’34.855, VER: 1’34.857 |
| Norris |
Norris passes Verstappen on the inside at turn 11 but runs over the white line at the exit
That was hard to see, I think I was completely ahead, but I didn’t know if I went off the track or not. |
Lambiase |
And 0.5. |
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Verstappen |
He went off the track. Can’t drive me off the track, so I need a position back. |
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Lambiase |
Copy Max. Gap behind Antonelli 2.2.
Norris lets Verstappen past at turn 17 |
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Verstappen |
Exiting turn 17
If he passes me now, that’s illegal. |
| Lap: 18/57 NOR: 1’32.384, VER: 1’33.253 |
| Joseph |
Norris appears to back off approaching turn 17, and Verstappen passed him
That was the right thing to do, we’re going to get it back.
Norris passes Verstappen, who does not defend at turn 11 |
Lambiase |
That was 0.4 |
| Joseph |
Strat seven please, strat seven. |
Lambiase |
Verstappen lets Norris pass him at turn 11
Okay, so gap behind to Antonelli, 1.8, his pace mid-32s. |
| Lap: 20/57 NOR: 1’31.884, VER: 1’33.284 |
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Lambiase |
So plan at the moment or objective Max is to just edge the gap to Antonelli. |
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