Max Verstappen on his first-lap 360 spin: “If F1 doesn’t work out I can always go rally!”

Motorsport photo

Max Verstappen may continue to follow in his father’s footsteps after Formula 1 – as he joked about being ready for rally after his 360-degree spin at the start of the Miami Grand Prix.

Verstappen was battling for the lead with Charles Leclerc exiting the first corner when he uncharacteristically spun under acceleration at Turn 2, creating a dramatic start to the Miami GP.

The four-time F1 world champion skilfully got his Red Bull car back under control after a 360-degree spin, with the pack sprawled behind him, as he avoided any lasting damage.

Verstappen, whose father Jos transitioned into rallying after his career in single-seaters and suffered a heavy crash in a rally in Belgium the weekend before Miami, felt the save was more rally than F1, but was pleased to avoid hitting the wall.

“I lost the rear in Turn 2 and then of course I tried to minimise the time loss by doing a 360,” Verstappen said. “Yeah, I thought I was going to crash but then I floored it, so I managed to do a good 360. If F1 doesn't work out I can always go rally!”

Attacking the apex of Turn 2, Leclerc closed the line on Verstappen and the two came inches away from contact, but the Red Bull driver had no complaints over Leclerc’s move as he held his hands up over the spin.

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing