Verstappen’s Miami GP spin sparks debate: 'You think that’s talent?'

The Dutchman found himself at the centre of a dramatic moment at the start while trying to snatch the race lead from Charles Leclerc, losing control of the car over the kerbs before somehow managing to keep it out of the wall despite the entire field flying past on both sides.

Thanks to that remarkable save, Verstappen was able to continue the race after losing only a handful of positions. He then switched to an alternative strategy by diving into the pits following the Safety Car deployment on lap six, triggered by the incident involving both his teammate and Pierre Gasly.

The spin quickly became a talking point between the two former drivers, who shared contrasting views on the incident while speaking on F1 TV. Palmer believed the moment was down to Verstappen’s exceptional car control and ability behind the wheel, whereas the Colombian argued the Dutchman was simply fortunate not to be collected by the cars around him or suffer any damage.

Palmer praised Verstappen’s car control, saying the Dutchman has “such a skill set at spinning cars and getting it going again at the right point,” before Montoya immediately pushed back by asking: “You think that’s talent? I thought it was pure luck.”

The Colombian did not just focus on the four-time world champion’s spin, but also called for harsh sanctions following his explosive rant and criticism of the current Formula 1 regulations. Speaking on the Chequered Flag podcast, Montoya argued that while drivers are entitled to disagree with the rules and openly voice their frustration, there still needs to be a level of respect towards the sport and the championship itself. According to the former Williams and McLaren driver, Verstappen’s criticism went too far, with the Dutchman’s comments deserving consequences from the FIA.

He also suggested Formula 1 should take a far tougher stance against similar outbursts in the future, warning that allowing such behaviour to go unpunished risks setting the wrong example. The Colombian even proposed adding a significant number of penalty points to Verstappen’s super licence, believing that the threat of a race ban would immediately change the tone surrounding the reigning world champion’s criticism of the regulations.