Tensions boil over in Miami as volatile new regulations and a desperate recovery drive spark a fierce clash, leaving the Spaniard fuming over the champion’s aggressive tactics.
The 2026 Miami Grand Prix delivered everything a Formula 1 fan could ask for — bold overtaking moves, position changes at every phase of the race, and the kind of on-track drama that unfolds in real time and leaves its mark on the championship standings. But the event was not without its more unsettling moments.
A collision between Lewis Hamilton and Franco Colapinto, and a frightening barrel roll by Pierre Gasly following contact with Liam Lawson, served as stark reminders of the dangers that have accompanied the sport's new regulatory era. The 2026 Formula 1 rules were designed, in part, to make overtaking easier and racing more entertaining. On that front, they have largely delivered.
But the accompanying changes to the power unit's energy deployment system have introduced a new and significant layer of unpredictability. In certain corners and under certain conditions, drivers are finding that they cannot control their cars with the same precision they were accustomed to in previous seasons — particularly during overtaking maneuvers, where a sudden surge or loss of power can transform a clean pass into a near-miss or worse.
Multiple drivers, including Max Verstappen, have spoken out about what they see as structural flaws in the new formula. Layered on top of this is the well-established reality that certain drivers bring their own particular brand of aggression to any regulatory environment. Verstappen, the four-time World Champion, has never been shy about racing to the absolute limit.
What did Carlos Sainz say about Max Verstappen?
Carlos Sainz was direct and unsparing in his assessment of Verstappen after a collision of paths between the two drivers during the race. As the Dutchman fought his way back up through the order following an early setback, he came into contact with Sainz in a manner that the Spaniard found difficult to accept.
"He thinks he can do whatever he wants just because he's racing in the midfield."
Speaking later in front of Planet F1 and the media gathered at the Miami International Autodrome — built around the grounds of Hard Rock Stadium, home of the NFL's Miami Dolphins — Sainz took the opportunity to unpack his frustration with more precision, while stopping short of an outright condemnation.
"Without any disrespect to him, but what he did at Turn 17 was almost like a dive bomb, knowing that because we're midfield runners, we weren't going to fight back against him and would have to give way at some point. What he did there was right on the limit. It probably came from a bit of frustration after his spin — he was trying to get back to the front as quickly as possible".
"I mean, it's a race. I'm not going to be too critical about it. It's just that, in that moment, it felt like we were going to crash. He pushed me off the track and I lost three positions, so it was frustrating," Sainz said.