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Karun Chandhok believes Max Verstappen spin cost him a Miami Grand Prix podium opportunity
TL;DR
Karun Chandhok believes Max Verstappen's early spin in the Miami Grand Prix cost him a podium finish. Despite starting on the front row, Verstappen finished fifth after recovering from the spin and receiving a five-second penalty.
Key points
- Karun Chandhok commented on Verstappen's performance
- Verstappen spun at Turn 1 during the race
- He finished fifth despite the spin
- Verstappen received a five-second penalty
- The penalty did not impact his final position
Karun ChandhokMax VerstappenMiami Grand Prix 2026
Photo by Luca Martini/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Karun Chandhok felt that Max Verstappen had a good shot at a podium finish in Miami, but his early spin took that chance away.
Verstappen lined up on the front row for the first time in 2026, but things went wrong straight away. He dropped back at the start and spun around Turn 1, managing to avoid damage despite spinning into oncoming traffic.
He fought his way back through the field with some aggressive overtakes and finished fifth. Verstappen was also handed a five-second penalty for crossing the pit exit line, though it didnāt impact his final position.
Red Bull had brought several upgrades to Miami, which seemed to help Verstappenās pace. However, Lando Norris criticised his approach, suggesting he was wasting time fighting unnecessary battles in midfield instead of focusing on moving forward.
Damon Hill echoed Norrisā comments, and Carlos Sainz also questioned some of Verstappenās early race moves. Though Verstappen did produce a strong recovery drive by later stages of the race, the early mistake cost him any hope of reaching the podium.
Karun Chandhok believes Max Verstappen quietly backed himself for a podium finish
Chandhok, speaking about Verstappen after the race, shared his impression that the Red Bull driver had felt a podium was within reach.
He wrote on The Intercooler: āMcLaren has got a few more go-faster bits to come in Canada while Red Bull says it has five fundamental areas of deficit to Mercedes.
āRed Bull believes that the Miami upgrade dealt with three of them but there are still two key areas where it can unlock additional performance.ā
āMax Verstappen qualified on the front row, but his early uncharacteristic spin meant we didnāt see his full potential in the race. I spoke with Max after the race and got the sense that he didnāt think that they could have challenged Kimi or up front but that the final place on the podium would otherwise have been within reach.ā
Q&A
What happened to Max Verstappen during the Miami Grand Prix?
Max Verstappen spun at Turn 1 shortly after the start, which affected his chances for a podium finish.
How did Max Verstappen finish in the Miami Grand Prix?
Max Verstappen finished in fifth place after recovering from his early spin and making aggressive overtakes.
Did Max Verstappen receive any penalties during the race?
Yes, Verstappen was handed a five-second penalty for crossing the pit exit line, but it did not affect his final position.
