Max Verstappen, the driver for Red Bull Racing, faced obstacles in the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix due to damage incurred during the race. Despite starting from pole position and leading the opening stint, Verstappen fell behind Lando Norris after the McLaren driver took advantage of a Safety Car period. Verstappen struggled to keep up with Norris and fell 7.6 seconds behind, citing ongoing balance issues that had plagued him throughout the weekend. Red Bull team boss Christian Horner revealed that a significant portion of the floor on Verstappen’s car was missing, likely caused by hitting a cone at the chicane on Lap 22. This damage affected the car’s performance and hindered Verstappen’s chances of victory.
Horner acknowledged that the team had faced balance issues throughout the weekend and that hitting the cone had caused substantial damage to the car’s underside. The missing section of the left rear floor was visibly flexing, further compromising the car’s performance. Verstappen, however, initially downplayed the impact of the damage, attributing his struggles to difficulties with the Hard tyre. He mentioned that hitting the cone did not noticeably affect his pace. Verstappen even joked about the incident, stating that he decided to test the durability of the front wing by removing the cone. He confirmed that there was no damage and that it did not impede other drivers on the track.
Nevertheless, Horner clarified that Verstappen’s comments were made before inspecting the car and that the damage had indeed affected his performance. Verstappen consistently lost time in Turn 1 compared to Norris, indicating that the damage played a role. Horner emphasized that the missing section of the floor was not part of the car’s intended design. Verstappen later agreed with Horner’s assessment, acknowledging the damage to the floor and the hole that could have resulted from hitting the cone.
In conclusion, Verstappen’s chances of winning the Miami Grand Prix were compromised by floor damage sustained when he hit a cone on the track. Despite leading initially, he struggled to keep up with Norris and fell behind due to ongoing balance issues. The missing section of the floor affected the car’s performance, as confirmed by Horner and Verstappen.