Nicole MulderManaging Editor
Nicole Mulder is Managing Editor at GPblog and a specialist in Formula 1 and MotoGP. With years of experience and permanent FIA accreditation at Grands Prix worldwide, she delivers reliable coverage and insights based on direct access to drivers and the F1 paddock.
Despite success in qualifying and the sprint race, it was not Red Bull Racing's weekend in Miami. Lando Norris simply had more pace in the Grand Prix, but would he have won without the safety car? And to what extent was Max Verstappen hampered by damage to his Formula 1 car?
Verstappen had a collision with a bollard at turn 15, possibly damaging the floor of his RB20. However, the Dutchman did not immediately feel this impacted his race pace. "It didn't feel different. So I don't know. Maybe it was already damaged. I don't know. I mean, I hit that thing, and then my pace was the same, so I didn't really know if there was damage," he said.
Verstappen not keen on 'what if...' scenarios
Asked if Norris could have won the race even without the free pit stop during the safety car, the McLaren driver admits that would not have been a certainty. "It would have been tough. I would have had to take two Ferraris. Red Bull, Oscar. Oscar was doing a very good job, so hats off to him," he praised his teammate, who fell far back in the rankings due to a collision with Sainz.
Verstappen joined Norris in making it clear that he has little use for 'what if' scenarios, making a curt comparison. "I mean, it's always if, if, if, right. If my mom had balls, she would be my dad. (Laughs) It's how it goes in racing. Sometimes it works out for you, sometimes it doesn't," said the championship leader.
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