Near Miss in Miami: Verstappen Blames Perez for Minor Red Bull Damage

Max Verstappen, the reigning Formula One World Champion, has pointed fingers at teammate Sergio Perez following a close call at the start of the Miami Grand Prix.

Collision Course Averted

Verstappen, who started from pole position, found himself challenged by Perez who went deep into turn one and locked up his tires. This caused Perez to appear to make contact with the rear of Verstappen’s Red Bull.

Verstappen's Perspective

Verstappen, reflecting on the incident after the race, expressed his concerns. “It was very close and could have ended badly,” he told Viaplay, a Scandinavian streaming service. He went on to claim that the near-miss caused “minor damage” to his Red Bull RB20.

Red Bull Reveals Extent of Damage

However, Christian Horner, Team Principal at Red Bull, revealed a slightly different story. While acknowledging that Verstappen did pick up some damage, he attributed it to a separate incident – a collision with a bollard at Turn 15 which caused minor wing and floor damage, and triggered a brief virtual safety car on Lap 28.

Focus on the Race

Despite the early drama, both Verstappen and Perez went on to finish the race. Verstappen, hampered by the damage, was unable to maintain his lead and finished second, while teammate Perez secured a podium finish in third place. The race was ultimately won by McLaren’s Lando Norris.

Unanswered Questions

Whether Perez’s aggressive maneuver at the start directly caused the damage Verstappen claims remains unclear. Regardless, the incident highlights the competitive spirit within the Red Bull team, and the delicate balance between pushing for victory and avoiding costly collisions.