Team Radio: Max Verstappen slams George Russell’s driving after Miami GP clash with Charles Leclerc. Max Verstappen criticised George Russell over team radio after the Mercedes driver’s late clash with Charles Leclerc .

The closing stages of the Miami Grand Prix were nothing short of dramatic. Charles Leclerc spun at Turn 3 while trying to stay close to Oscar Piastri’s McLaren in what had become a battle for a podium finish.

The Ferrari driver damaged his SF-26 and completed the lap by cutting several corners, an action that later resulted in a 20-second penalty which dropped him from sixth place to eighth in the final classification.

On the long straight leading into the braking zone for Turn 17, Charles Leclerc was overtaken by George Russell. The Monegasque driver attempted a very late braking move and made contact with the Mercedes driver’s left-rear wheel using the front-right of his Ferrari.

The stewards decided not to take any action regarding the contact. However, over team radio, Max Verstappen observed that, from his point of view, George Russell had “once again” closed the door on Charles Leclerc as if the Ferrari driver “didn’t exist”.

The final laps of the Miami Grand Prix provided intense drama, highlighted by the stewards’ post-race decisions and candid radio reactions from the cockpit. Ultimately, these on-track skirmishes reshaped the final classification and added another chapter to the ongoing rivalries of the 2026 season.