Breaking:Verstapen’s Miami meltdown fueled by pit blunder penalty and the BLACK PINK c…read more
Breaking:Verstapen’s Miami meltdown fueled by pit blunder penalty and the BLACK PINK c…read more
Max Verstappen’s weekend at the Miami Grand Prix has gone from bad to worse, with a string of misfortunes that have fans and commentators alike questioning whether a bizarre “curse” is at play.
The reigning four-time Formula 1 World Champion was poised to claim points in Saturday’s sprint race at the Miami International Autodrome, but his race unravelled due to an unexpected pit lane incident. While pitting, Verstappen’s Red Bull was inadvertently released into the path of Mercedes’ rising star Kimi Antonelli, resulting in a collision. Team Principal Christian Horner later attributed the error to a lapse in communication within the Red Bull garage, describing it as a “human error” that had unfortunate consequences.
Despite the unintentional nature of the mishap, Verstappen was slapped with a 10-second time penalty by race stewards, which effectively ruined his chances in the sprint. With several cars retiring from the race, Verstappen still ended up finishing 17th—last among the classified drivers—marking the first time in nearly nine years (since the 2016 Belgian Grand Prix) that the Dutchman failed to score any points in a race.
But while the blunder could be chalked up to typical racing drama, some fans are turning to superstition for answers. This isn’t the first time Max Verstappen has experienced trouble at the Miami Grand Prix, and the pattern has sparked wild speculation online.
Adding fuel to the fire is the high-profile visit from global pop sensation LISA of BLACKPINK, who was spotted in the Red Bull garage before her role waving the chequered flag on Sunday. Saturday’s chaotic sprint also saw appearances from other BLACKPINK members, including ROSÉ, whose presence sparked a wave of fan theories across social media. One X (formerly Twitter) user joked, “If it goes like last year, BLACKPINK member at race + in Red Bull garage = Max’s race is cursed.”
This isn’t the first time superstition has swirled around celebrity appearances in F1 paddocks. Red Bull, often at the center of glitz and glamour in the sport, frequently hosts major entertainment figures—but fans are now beginning to question whether star-studded distractions are affecting performance, or if sheer coincidence is to blame for the streak of bad luck.
Saturday’s sprint race itself was chaotic from the start. Charles Leclerc crashed even before the race began, while Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz both retired with mechanical issues. Amid the chaos, Verstappen’s unfortunate pit lane incident became just one part of a turbulent day.
As the weekend rolls on, Verstappen and Red Bull will be looking to reset and refocus ahead of Sunday’s main race. But whether it’s mechanical missteps, team errors, or a supposed curse, the Miami GP has once again proven to be a thorn in the side of one of F1’s greatest drivers.
