Max Verstappen Discusses Pitstop Collision and Its Aftermath at Miami GP Sprint

Formula 1 world champion, Max Verstappen, expressed his relief that no one was injured following the pitstop collision during the Miami Grand Prix sprint race. The incident, which occurred on a drying track, resulted in a penalty for Verstappen.

The Pitstop Mishap and Its Impact on Verstappen’s Race

As Verstappen came in for slick tyres on lap 13 of 18, he attempted to undercut the comfortably leading McLaren pair, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. However, upon exiting the pit lane, he collided with polesitter Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who was due to stop in the Mercedes box right in front of him. The collision damaged Verstappen’s front wing, costing him third position against Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton.

To add insult to injury, Verstappen was handed a 10-second penalty, dropping him well out of the points in 17th as the field bunched up to finish under safety car conditions. This unfortunate event marks the second race weekend in three grands prix where Verstappen has been affected by pitstop trouble, with a lights malfunction and slow wheel change also costing him in Bahrain.

Despite these setbacks, Verstappen remained optimistic, stating that the incidents were unrelated and emphasized his happiness that no one was injured during the collision. He further added that they needed to investigate the matter thoroughly.

Team Boss Christian Horner’s Response

Red Bull team boss, Christian Horner, attributed the incident to “human error” and vowed that the team would learn from it. The mishap cost Verstappen a guaranteed six points for claiming third in the sprint as well as an opportunity to attack the McLarens. Antonelli also dropped out of the points due to the collision, which prevented him from making a pitstop, necessitating a second visit to the pits to bolt on medium tyres.

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