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McLaren Beaten in Miami Thriller as Max Verstappen Roars Back to Victory
Max Verstappen silenced his critics and stormed back to the top with a commanding performance in Saturday’s Sprint Race at the Miami Grand Prix, snatching victory from McLaren in a dramatic showdown.
After being hit with a three-place grid penalty that dropped him to seventh, Verstappen launched a fierce charge through the field, overtaking rivals with clinical precision. The Red Bull ace showcased both aggression and control, eventually passing Oscar Piastri on lap 11 of 19 to take the lead and never looked back.
“I just had to stay calm and focus on every move,” Verstappen said after the race. “The car was perfect today, and I’m proud of how we turned it around.”
McLaren, who had started the Sprint with both cars in strong positions, were left disappointed. Piastri finished second after being unable to hold Verstappen off in the closing stages, while teammate Lando Norris dropped to fifth after struggling with tire degradation.
“It’s frustrating,” said Piastri. “We had the pace early on, but Max was just on another level once he got into rhythm.”
Mercedes’ George Russell completed the podium in third, fending off Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz in a hard-fought battle. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton had a mixed race, recovering from a deleted lap in qualifying to finish sixth.
The win marks a crucial momentum shift for Verstappen and Red Bull, who have faced scrutiny following recent internal tensions and inconsistent form. Saturday’s victory sends a clear message that Verstappen remains firmly in title contention.
Christian Horner hailed his driver’s performance: “Max showed today why he’s a world champion. From P7 to P1 in a Sprint — that’s something special.”
With the main Grand Prix still to come on Sunday, all eyes remain on Miami as Red Bull reclaims its dominance and McLaren look to regroup for revenge.
