Max Verstappen was unable to overcome Lando Norris in Miami following a period of caution on the track. The reigning Formula 1 champion, who has been dominant in recent years, faced a setback at the race. Despite this, former Haas F1 team boss and Drive to Survive star Guenther Steiner suggests that Verstappen may have been satisfied with the outcome.
Steiner recalls hearing Verstappen’s team radio during the weekend and points out that despite the driver’s complaints about the car, he was still able to secure pole position for the Grand Prix. This indicates that the RB20 was still competitive. Steiner suggests that Verstappen may have been content with not winning the race in order to portray Red Bull as having a subpar car in Miami. It should be noted, however, that Verstappen’s RB20 chassis sustained damage early on, affecting his performance.
Red Bull faced difficulties compared to previous weekends at the Miami race. Sergio Perez nearly collided with Verstappen at the start, and it marked the second race this season where the team from Milton Keynes failed to secure a victory. Despite the challenges, Steiner acknowledges that Red Bull still won the sprint race and claimed pole position. He suggests that many teams in the paddock would not mind having the same problems as Milton Keynes.
Looking ahead, Red Bull aims to make a comeback at the upcoming race. They have planned an upgrade package that could significantly improve the RB20. The question remains whether Verstappen can once again stand on the top step of the podium in the next race.