Horner: Verstappen’s Bold Drive Hurt Red Bull’s Race

Red Bull boss Christian Horner says Max Verstappen’s aggressive strategy at the Miami Grand Prix ultimately cost them a Formula 1 podium.

Red Bull left Miami without a podium finish, but Team Principal Christian Horner remains optimistic. He acknowledged McLaren’s dominance over the weekend, calling their double victory, both in the Sprint and the main race, well deserved.

“We gave it everything, but credit to McLaren. They were in a league of their own,” Horner said. “Fourth place and both cars in the points was really the best we could hope for after such a chaotic Grand Prix.”

Horner reflected on Max Verstappen’s aggressive first stint, where the Dutchman pushed hard to maintain the lead. But a Virtual Safety Car (VSC) period allowed rivals like George Russell to gain an advantage after Max pitted early, ultimately costing Red Bull a spot on the podium.

“Max fought incredibly hard to keep the lead, especially in those opening laps. That determination was brave, but in hindsight, it may have hurt our race,” Horner admitted. “His fight with Oscar [Piastri] overheated the tires, and that started to snowball.”

Even so, Horner had praise for his driver’s effort. “When you’re leading a Grand Prix, you go for it. Max did an incredible job holding off Oscar for as long as he did, and later, Lando [Norris].”

He also took a moment to highlight Yuki Tsunoda’s consistent form. “Tenth place for Yuki was well-earned. He kept hold of that final point despite a penalty, which was impressive.”

Looking ahead, Horner made it clear there’s still work to do: “The race showed we still need to improve our pace over long runs. We’ve taken a lot back with us to Milton Keynes, and we’ll come back stronger. We’ve got upgrades planned for Imola, our 400th race, which will be a key moment for the RB21.”