Kimi Antonelli had started in pole position today, but the Italian lost his head against Oscar Piastri at the first turn.
Very upset, the Mercedes F1 driver then lost all chance of getting into the points because of Verstappen.
“It was a great opportunity, but I am a little disappointed with the way the first round took place. It looks like it’s like that, that we can do what we want, so it’s good to know for the future. It’s really a shame, but fortunately, we have a qualification to bounce back.”
Regarding the missing stand due to Red Bull’s error.
“I did the best to avoid Max but the error is clearly on their side. What is very important is that there is nothing to blame Max, because he just followed the order of the team.”
“As soon as I saw him go out, I tried to avoid the accident, because it could have been very serious for the mechanics. So I’m glad everything went well.”
“It ruined my race even more but at the point where I was. As much to forget that and think about it. Like Toto (Wolff) said, it was just a small race and people behaved in a small way …”
Toto Wolff, director of the Mercedes team, was not at all impressed by what he saw.
“If it was the main race, it would be really annoying. But I am surprised by the total lack of judgment of Red Bull, because it was far from being a question of freeing him without any security problems. Suddenly, someone panicked at home!”
“On Kimi’s departure … We don’t create a good precedent. We let go of the brake and we push the other. We have to make room for a car, but it has become obvious that in the first turn, he pushed it.”
“This is Kimi’s sixth race and he held the lesson: that’s what you have to do. I do not fully agree, but that’s how we’ve been doing for a few years.”
George Russell started fifth and finished fifth, but he lost two places against Lewis Hamilton and Alex Albon. The Briton regrets not having had a better timing of the stand but however appreciated the sprint in Miami.
“It was fun, I did not want to stop too early, but there were a lot of risks, and the awards are not huge, we could have scored four more points. It’s a bit frustrating, I lost a few places against Lewis and Alex, but the sprint is a warm -up for qualification and I am happy that it was more fun than usual” said Russell.
