Carlos Sainz Lets Rip at Max Verstappen After Miami Grand Prix Close Call
· Yahoo Sports
Carlos Sainz has been a man under pressure all season. Williams is running at the back of the midfield, Sainz’s two points are the only ones the team has scored so far in 2026, and Miami wasn’t exactly the clean weekend the team needed. It got messier when Max Verstappen got involved.
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During the early section of the race, a near-miss between Sainz’s Williams and Verstappen’s Red Bull prompted an immediate angry response on team radio. “What the f*** was that?” Sainz demanded. His engineer Gaetan replied simply: “We’ll report.” That wasn’t enough for Sainz, who made his feelings clear: “I think he pushed me off. He thinks he can do whatever he wants just because he’s racing in the midfield.” Gaetan’s response, “That’s a long race, a long race,” was about the most diplomatic thing said between them all afternoon.
Verstappen in the Midfield Is a Different Animal
Verstappen has said Red Bull halved the gap to the leading pack with the upgrade package it brought to Miami, but the three-time world champion is still nowhere near where he’s used to racing. He called the new 2026 cars “anti-racing” and likened them to Mario Kart, while strongly hinting after the last race that he was seriously considering walking away from the sport at the end of 2026.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 08: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (3) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB22 Red Bull Ford leads Carlos Sainz of Spain driving the (55) Williams FW48 Mercedes on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Australia at Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit on March 08, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202603080147 // Usage for editorial use only //A frustrated Verstappen stuck in the pack is a very different proposition from the one cruising at the front with a second of clear air.
Sainz’s frustration is understandable, however.
Only moments before this, the Alpine of Pierre Gasly was flipped after contact with Racing Bull’s Liam Lawson, who later retired with damage received by the hit. This followed Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar hitting the wall at Turn 14 after he skimmed the inside of Turn 13, breaking his suspension arm and leaving him angered, thumping his steering wheel in annoyance.