Max Verstappen says the difference between third and fourth place doesn’t matter to him after missing out on a podium finish in Miami.
The pole-winner was unable to keep the rapid McLarens behind in Miami, then slipped to fourth place when George Russell benefited from the timing of a Virtual Safety Car period.After the race Lando Norris claimed Verstappen could have finished higher up had he not spent so long trying to defend his position from the McLaren drivers, losing time in the process. But Verstappen, who has won more grands prix than any driver besides Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher, said he isn’t bothered by the loss of three points.
“They [McLaren] were flying,” he told Viaplay after the race. “Honestly, I tried to defend, have a bit of fun out there in the meantime, but it was of course, at the end, impossible to keep them behind.
“Then we got a bit unlucky with that VSC. So it’s not ideal, but at the end of the day, of course if you are here as a team, also of course we are aiming to win, right? That’s what we are competing for. Then it also doesn’t really matter so much if you’re P3 or P4.”
Verstappen went wheel-to-wheel with both McLaren drivers over the course of the race. While Oscar Piastri took advantage of a mistake by Verstappen to claim the lead, Norris got ahead once the Red Bull driver stopped defending his place. Verstappen said he found “no difference” between the pair in terms of their racing styles.
The result was the second time in the last three races Verstappen hasn’t reached the podium. Team principal Christian Horner admitted “we still have a lot of work to do on the car to find that ultimate race pace.”
“Max put up a staunch defence of his lead and position in the opening stint, but the VSC gave others the opportunity to capitalise on Max’s earlier stop and ultimately cost him a podium finish.”
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BasCB (@bascb)
7th May 2025, 7:34
Sure Max. Now I do get the sentiment, and if he is convinced he won’t be able to really fight for the championship this year (as someone mentioned a few days ago might be part of his motivation), it does make sense.
But really, this is just cope to try and accept that he is not in control and is not able to win with even the best of his efforts.
Ideals (@ideals)
7th May 2025, 18:15
I mean, once your half way to a century of race wins and 4 championships in, I do think getting third place simply holds no real value to any driver anymore. It’s just a matter of perspective. If you’re getting your first few podiums, then yes, a third place feels amazing, I’m sure. Even after you get a win or two, podiums will still feel a bit special. But after a dozen or more race wins, I’m sure P3 feels way less special already.
Once you win 19 races in a single season, anything that’s not a win will feel like a loss and I’m sure P3 or P4 is nothing that will move the emotional needle anymore.
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
7th May 2025, 23:49
The difference between Hamilton and Verstappen :
Lewis : How can I help this team win, and move forward
Verstappen : waaah waaaaaah waaaah. Oooh wait i can run someone off the track. waaah waaah
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
8th May 2025, 4:52
Another difference is that verstappen always maximises the result, hamilton wastes a lot through mistakes and off weekends, I’m also talking about 2021.
RomTrain (@romtrain)
8th May 2025, 7:38
always maximizes, unless he doesnt. like again last weekend
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
7th May 2025, 23:51
pretty much, I have never seen anyone act so entitled. In professional sports.
F1statsfan (@f1statsfan)
8th May 2025, 6:04
At least Max keeps on trying – your favorite driver Lewis regularly has thrown in the towel and gave up.
I rather have a driver that keeps on fighting and delivering results but isn’t thrilled about 3rd or 4th than a driver that just gives up and isn’t delivering the results he should.
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
12th May 2025, 10:05
the whole idea Lewis has given up was around right before his winning streak at Mercedes. People have been calling that guy a quitter for ever, in hopes that he actually does quit. Yet when ever it rains, or setup is an issue (saturdays), he seems to shine a little bit brighter than the rest, maybe not always, or over everyone, but on average, the guy is still a winner, and not only because he still has won races this year, but because he refuses to be negative, and will’s (in the face of absurdity) the winning attitude around his team (at least in front of the cameras).
He doesn’t walk on water, but he sure as heck can race on it.
MacLeod (@macleod)
8th May 2025, 7:50
I think you NEVER seen entitled kids …. if you think Max is one of them. Max had to work & train for his stuff and that is what entitled kids NEVER do.
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
12th May 2025, 10:02
hes put in the work, his dad is probably a slave driver, and behind the scenes he might be a really great guy. but on the radio, it sounds horrible. And for godsake, why does he have to run people off the road, or skip corners and get away w/ 5 second penalties, routinely. He’d have my vote if he wasn’t a complete ball-stared in that respect.
watching one guy cheat while the others hardly come close, isn’t really entertaining, and is in a kind of respect, entitled in appearance at least.
Zach (@zakspeedf1team)
7th May 2025, 7:55
Well, there have been seasons where three points or less has decided the championship.
harsha vardhan
7th May 2025, 9:06
Well he doesn’t believe he will even be in the running, because it’s the car
RomTrain (@romtrain)
7th May 2025, 17:33
it was the car the last 3 years
Carsten Nielsen (@carstenb)
7th May 2025, 10:00
I see Max returning to Pre2022 MadMax (yes including the crazy 2021 where he was gifted the championship in Dubai).
Fighting tooth and nail no matter the cost for anyone involved. He has been relatively benign during the RedBull car supremacy, didn’t need to go crazy.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
8th May 2025, 4:57
Verstappen scored 94% of all available points keeping into account the car and reliability that season, hamilton 82%, some interesting statistic that came out a while ago, which is why it doesn’t make sense to say he was gifted the championship, more like he was given back a few of the points lost through misfortune earlier on.
An Sionnach
8th May 2025, 11:11
It would be incredible, but we have seen Max perform at this astonishing level for some time now. To paraphrase the old adage, when the facts warrant it, I ignore, suppress, deflect or just flat out refuse to accept them. Reality is a difficult headwind to unrepentantly resist…
Tony Mansell (@tonymansell)
7th May 2025, 10:16
Its a pity we dont have more Max’s. Might even even see some racing. Just shows you, you can try and create cars that allow racing but if the computer says no, they tour round at optimum race time.
Doh
9th May 2025, 13:06
Can’t tell if it would be good or pointless. Currently seems like it would be a lot of racing off the track and every but of racing coming under “let’s see who can attack or defend best by rolling off the brakes and taking it off track”
grapmg
7th May 2025, 11:06
We all enjoy and remember the best overtakes in F1 so thats what we want to see. But personally I like this hard defensive driving expecially when a slower car is able to keep the faster car behind. My favorites
1. Alesi / Senna Phoenix 1990
2. Senna / Mansell Monaco 1992
3. Senna / Prost Hockenheim 1990
4. Alonso / Hamilton Hungary 2021
Tony Mansell (@tonymansell)
7th May 2025, 11:20
Of course the greatest of them all G Villeneuve in a pig of a Ferrari holding up the whole grid pretty much to win.
I also really liked Patrese/Mansell switching positions to attack Senna so to wear his tyres out, Mansell eventually won once Patrese had done the damage. I don’t remember where it was just but i do recall James Hunts measured commentary and perhaps the last time Mansell read the race tactics written on his hand for him ;)
Grapmg
7th May 2025, 16:26
G Villeneuve is before my F1 time but I think Senna/ Mansell / Patrese was Hungary 1991. Although Senna won that one so maybe not in1991?
Crawliin-from-the-wreckage- Special Unhinged Edition (@davedai)
7th May 2025, 12:43
72 French duel G Villeneuve and Rene Arnoux last 3 or 4 laps for me.
And that was for 2nd/3rd
rprp
7th May 2025, 15:07
Perez vs Hamilton in Istanbul 2020 and Abu Dhabi 2021 were both excellent defensive drives.
F1statsfan (@f1statsfan)
8th May 2025, 6:05
What about Petrov against Alonso in the season final of 2012 costing Alonso the 2012 championship.
RomTrain
8th May 2025, 9:31
Just rewatched the Highlights of brazil 2012. Vettel got spun in lap 1, but recovered well in the race. Hamilton got taken out by Hulkenberg, who lost control while overtaking backmarkers. Alonso finished in P2, after he lost places locking up by himself in turn 1. Saw no hints of Alonso being held up by Petrow…
Grapmg
8th May 2025, 18:51
In 2010 (not 2012)Alonso ended up behind Petrov after a strategic error from Ferrari. Lost the WDC to Vettel after he was unable to get past.
F1statsfan (@f1statsfan)
9th May 2025, 8:06
Ah Thank you – I indeed mistaken the year it was 2010 not 2012.
Leo B
7th May 2025, 11:08
Spoken like a true champion.
oweng (@oweng)
7th May 2025, 13:01
I get why it doesn’t matter to him, but it could matter to the team. Especially if they can get the 2nd driver scoring any meaningful points as well.
Mike
7th May 2025, 15:21
Make sure to read the articles offered on this website. On lap 13, Verstappen was told to defend the inside against the Mclarens. The “team” instructed him to fight so it is the fault of the “team” if they have lost points due to the fight.
F1statsfan (@f1statsfan)
8th May 2025, 6:09
I think there is a translation issue – it now comes across that Max gives up or doesn’t care.
He cares a lot – he keeps on fighting for the best result and often delivering it – it just doesn’t personally excites him anymore to finish 3rd or 4th.
Indeed if Max gets the choice risk 3rd to finish 1st or go safely for 3rd – he each time will risk 3rd to become 1st but isn’t that what a racing driver should do when he and his team are not realistically fighting for the championship.
That is partly how Max won the 70th anniversary race at Silverstone against an extremely dominant Mercedes that year – taking risks and maximizing opportunities.
Ferdi
8th May 2025, 11:46
Yes, it is clear his remark is meant vs being 1st, which is the ONLY reason why he competes in the first place. He will only stick around in a sub par car if he somewhere sees/believes the possibility of the car becoming competitive again. Otherwise, I expect him to walk instantly. So from that perspective, if you can’t get that nr 1 spot it is totally irrelevant whether he comes in 3rd or 4th. That’s all he said/meant. Lovely to see the various interpretations.
F180 (@f180)
7th May 2025, 13:12
Max to Mercedes. Red Bull is toasted for many years.
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
7th May 2025, 23:53
It’s true, Toto might let Max take Schumacher’s season win record.
Jorge Jaime
7th May 2025, 13:23
He should be involved in the improvinemnt of Yuki’s handling of the Max oriented RB car. So the team will be better positioned in the Team rankings
Edvaldo
7th May 2025, 13:38
Turns out Max can’t win with a Haas as some have been saying (some people always exaggerate when someone dominates). What a surprise.
Ideals (@ideals)
7th May 2025, 18:09
Not sure what your argument is here, if you’re saying this car is so bad nobody, including Max, could win driving it, I feel like you have a big Japan-sized blind spot there.
Edvaldo
7th May 2025, 19:08
What argument? There’s no argument. Everybody needs a car good enough to be competitive and win, even him.
That’s what i’m talking about.
When Max said last year that he could be a WDC with either Ferrari or Mclaren there were people saying he could do it even with Haas. Was it clear enough now?
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
8th May 2025, 5:06
Yes, I remember that discussion, for me it was always clear no one wins with a midfield car or worse, it’s certain verstappen would’ve won with last year’s mclaren (assuming he adapted to the car ofc) and it’s very unsure he’d have won with the ferrari, if he did it’d have been marginal.
osnola
7th May 2025, 18:09
We only know that when you put him in a Haas ;)
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
8th May 2025, 5:07
We’ve already seen verstappen in a similar car, in 2015, he got a 4th place as highlight.