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Verstappen reacts to F1 battle with Hamilton in Miami: ‘Waste of time’
Four-time F1 world champion Max Verstappen expressed his frustration over losing four seconds battling Lewis Hamilton at the Miami Grand Prix. Despite qualifying ahead of Hamilton, Verstappen was overtaken and later re-passed Hamilton, only to give back the position due to a potentially unclear situation reminiscent of Saudi Arabia 2021. The back-and-forth cost both drivers valuable time and hindered Verstappen’s podium chances against the Mercedes cars ahead.
Verstappen, who finished the sprint race in fifth, acknowledged the need for improvements in Red Bull’s car, which showed progress with seven upgrades introduced at Miami. He believed that Red Bull had distanced themselves from the midfield on the 2026 grid, a result of development work during the sport’s five-week break. The team’s enhanced performance could signify a closer battle with McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari for podium finishes in the upcoming races.
