Formula 1 News: Verstappen shrugs off Norris' middle finger

(GMM) Lando Norris pointed the middle finger at Max Verstappen on Sunday, but it’s the second McLaren raced by Oscar Piastri who is beginning to run away with 2025.

Red Bull’s Verstappen started from pole in Miami, but team advisor Dr Helmut Marko acknowledges the reality of the situation.

“Max showed his magic on one lap,” he said. “But in the race we saw how far behind McLaren we are. We are talking about seven tenths of a second per lap.”

It was Piastri who emerged with his third consecutive grand prix win, and now a 16-point advantage over Norris – but Norris vented his fury at his friend Verstappen.

Onboard footage showed Norris displaying the middle finger at the quadruple world champion following the latest feisty wheel-to-wheel battle.

“It’s the way it is with Max – it’s crash or don’t pass,” said the Briton. “But he’s ruining his own race. He’s not racing very smart.”

Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB21 leads Lando Norris of Great Britain driving the (4) McLaren MCL39 Mercedes Oscar Piastri of Australia driving the (81) McLaren MCL39 Mercedes Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy driving the (12) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team W16 and the rest of the field at the start during the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 04, 2025 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool //

Verstappen, however, hit back by insisting he was simply resigned to finishing behind those with clearly superior pace. “Of course I tried a few things with those McLarens,” said the Dutchman, “because I have nothing to lose.

“A bit of fun, because I can’t make much else of it.”

He said he wasn’t even interested in Red Bull’s unsuccessful protest against a yellow flag incident involving George Russell, which could have elevated Verstappen to P3.

“It doesn’t really matter whether you finish third or fourth,” Verstappen insisted. “That’s not why I’m here. At one point I thought ‘never mind – I’ll go home soon’.”

As for Norris’ middle-finger and verbal complaints about Verstappen’s racing style, and the ongoing reputation as a ‘bad guy’, the Red Bull driver denied it affects him.

“Why? Is that a problem?” he told Viaplay.

“I defend myself with the means at my disposal, just like every other Formula 1 driver.”