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Norris: Verstappen was 'not racing very smart' at Miami GP

Hector Vivas / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Max Verstappen put up a hard fight Sunday against Lando Norris at the Miami Grand Prix, which the McLaren driver believes was not "very smart."

Norris lost several positions at the start of the race after ending up off the track while trying to pass Verstappen for the lead at Turn 2. The McLaren driver later caught back up to Verstappen and eventually passed him for second place, though it was not without another off-track excursion that had Norris momentarily give the position back to the Red Bull pilot.

"It was fine," Norris said about his clashes with Verstappen in the post-race news conference. "I mean, he's fighting hard, but it's up to him to do that. You know, he's ruined his own race. He's not racing very smart. He probably could have finished third today and he didn't because of that. He's fighting hard, that's always expected, but that's the way it is."

Norris finished second with his teammate Oscar Piastri taking the victory. Piastri also had to clear Verstappen and did so without issue, though it took him a few laps.

Verstappen, who started in pole position, finished fourth, a little more than two seconds behind Mercedes' George Russell for the final podium spot. The Red Bull driver also lost time when a virtual safety car was called shortly after his lone pit stop of the race.

"Honestly it's not frustrating at all," Verstappen said, according to BBC's Andrew Benson. "We are here to win and today we were miles off that, so it doesn't really matter if you are a P3 or P4.

"I had nothing to lose, so I also just wanted to have a bit of fun out there."

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