Lando Norris commented that Max Verstappen `ruined his own race`, criticizing the reigning world champion following their intense on-track skirmishes at the Miami Grand Prix.
At the start, Norris challenged pole-sitter Verstappen for the lead through the first chicane. Norris felt he was `forced off` the track by the Red Bull car at Turn 2, a defensive move that caused him to drop significantly down the order to sixth place.
He quickly recovered, passing Alex Albon, George Russell, and Kimi Antonelli before closing the gap to Verstappen, who was engaged in a strong battle for the lead with Norris`s McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri.
Piastri waited for Verstappen to make an error, allowing him to take the lead. Verstappen then fiercely defended his position against Norris over several laps before eventually being overtaken by the McLaren driver.
This battle enabled Piastri to build a significant lead of nine seconds over Norris. The time lost by Verstappen also contributed to him exiting his pit stop sequence just behind George Russell.
`It was fine. He`s fighting hard, but that`s his choice,` commented Norris, who is now 16 points behind Piastri in the Drivers` Championship.
`He ruined his own race. He wasn`t racing very cleverly. He likely could have secured third place today, but his actions prevented that. He fights hard, as is typical, but that`s the situation.`
Verstappen, whose position was compromised relative to Russell due to the timing of a Virtual Safety Car, stated he was simply defending aggressively `like everyone else`.
`I tried my best. We started in a strong position. I aimed for a good battle and to have some fun. We couldn`t hold onto the lead,` he added.
`The rest was somewhat unlucky with the VSC, but ultimately, finishing P3 or P4 isn`t the goal; we aim for victory, and we were far from that.`
Sky Sports F1`s Jenson Button:
Lando experienced the incident at Turn 2 at the start. But subsequently, his pace was incredible.
What surprised me most was that he didn`t appear too disheartened. He wasn`t as downbeat as I anticipated.
He understands that Turn 2 cost him the race but knows his potential is evident, and his opportunity will arise.
Norris on Verstappen`s Approach
Norris and Verstappen had previous clashes in Austria, the USA, and Mexico City last year, resulting in penalties in each instance.
While neither driver received a penalty in the Miami race, Norris expressed dissatisfaction with the first-lap incident, which was noted by stewards but not formally investigated.
`Without taking that evasive action, I would have ended up hard in the wall,` Norris explained to Sky Sports F1 when questioned about Verstappen`s sudden oversteer moment, which left the McLaren driver with no alternative but to run off the circuit.
Norris also remarked that Verstappen is free to `do whatever he wants`, adding semi-jokingly that he only said it `for the interview`.
When asked if he would handle a similar first-lap situation differently in the future, he replied: `Nothing. If there`s an opportunity, I`ll seize it. I won`t back down. I`m here to compete. I`ll stop talking now.`
The events at the start of the race highlighted the application of F1`s updated Driving Standard Guidelines introduced this season.
Under these updated rules, a driver on the inside line can legally force their competitor wide, provided they remain within track boundaries, and are not required to leave space on the outside.
Piastri previously utilized these new overtaking rules against Verstappen in Saudi Arabia and against Mercedes` Kimi Antonelli during the Miami Sprint race.
McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella later conceded that, in retrospect and aware of the team`s significant pace advantage, Norris might have been wiser to concede the position to Verstappen at the start.
Stella stated to Sky Sports F1: `Considering the pace the car had, with hindsight, it might have been strategically better for Lando on the first lap to lift off, accepting he could reclaim the lead later in the race. But that`s easy to say in hindsight.`
Sky Sports F1`s Martin Brundle:
I don`t believe Lando could have done anything other than stay on the power.
Max was at a disadvantage on the outside of Turn 1. He had to accelerate and go.
Lando did well to prevent contact from escalating there. He had no choice but to push because it seemed like he could gain the position.
Max then had another slide at Turn 2 which forced him across the track, and Lando realized he was heading for the wall.
I think if he faced that exact situation again, he`d have to react the same way. It simply didn`t unfold favorably for him.
It likely cost him the victory in this Grand Prix.
Norris Finds More Comfort in Car
Norris openly admitted that he doesn`t feel as confident with this year`s car compared to the one he drove last year, when he finished the championship second to Verstappen.
Despite Piastri`s victory, Norris managed to reduce a nine-second gap after passing Verstappen, finishing only four seconds behind at the chequered flag. He also outqualified his McLaren teammate for the first time since the Japanese Grand Prix.
`It was still a positive weekend for me. I`m content with my progress,` said Norris. `I felt more at ease in the car again. There are still areas where I need to improve.`
`I`m not yet in the optimal place regarding comfort and performance, and I need to be there to qualify at the front and compete against the top drivers.`
`So, we`ll keep working incrementally. It`s been a positive weekend overall. The pace is very strong. Some small issues interfered, but that`s part of racing.`
`I`m still satisfied, though not with the final position. I`m here to contend for and achieve wins, but there`s always another opportunity.`
Gilbert Pendleton 
Wesley Dunham