Max Verstappen on Miami F1 spin: "I thought I was going to crash, so I floored it”

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen says he “thought I was going to crash” so “floored it” into a 360-degree spin at the start of the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix.

The four-time world champion was vying for the lead with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc when he dropped his car going through Turn 2.

Max Verstappen completed a full 360-degree spin as the pack around him flew by, dropping him to the outer reaches of the top 10.

Some aggressive overtaking got him back up the order, before he pitted under the safety car on lap seven of 57 to make an early switch to hard tyres.

Though he would regain the lead after the cars ahead made their stops, Verstappen ultimately faded to fifth at the chequered flag.

“Yeah, quite hectic,” he told the media, including Crash.net, on Sunday.

“I lost the rear into Turn 2. Of course, I tried to minimise the time loss by doing a 360.

“I thought I was going to crash, so I floored it and ended up doing a 360.

“So, if F1 doesn’t work out, I can always go rallying!

“After that, I think the pace was not too bad on the medium, but as soon as I switched to the hard compound it was just a lot more difficult.

“I think now after the race it’s easy to say, of course, but I think that stint was a bit too long.”

The Dutchman was close to contact with Leclerc on the inside of Turn 2 on the opening lap, but doesn’t think this was a factor in his spin.

“No, I don’t think,” he added. “We just pushed into the corner, but we just lost it, the rear started to slide and once it goes, with heavy fuel, it’s hard to catch.”

Verstappen engaged in other battles towards the end of the race, wit George Russell - which resulted in contact - and last-corner pass on a hobbled Leclerc.

“Yeah, I think Charles’ car was broken,” he said.

“So, he was bringing it to the end. I think he was using all the battery, like we all did, but for whatever reason I could just get him before the line.”

On Russell, he added: “Yeah, I think out of Turn 1 he clipped my rear tyre, so he picked up a bit of front wing damage. Luckily, I didn’t have a puncture, but that can happen.”

Red Bull “not there yet”

Verstappen’s Miami weekend was a marked improvement over the opening three rounds, with an upgraded car - most significantly to his steering system - helping him to second on the grid in qualifying and a best Sunday finish of the year.

“Yeah, at least I could race a bit more with those guys ahead,” he said about his improved car.

“Unfortunately, the hard compound just didn’t seem to work all that well for us.

“Just having a steering wheel that works. Before, the steering wasn’t working, so clearly something wasn’t right.

“We’re getting there. We’re not the same [as Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes] yet.”

Verstappen is under investigation for potentially crossing the white line on pit-exit during the race, with the stewards deferring this until after the chequered flag.