The Miami Grand Prix Curse to Blame for Max Verstappen’s Ho… read more
Four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen has enjoyed an almost untouchable run of dominance in recent seasons, but the 2024 Miami Grand Prix weekend has presented an unusual stumbling block. Despite coming into the weekend as a favorite, Verstappen experienced a series of unfortunate incidents that have left fans and pundits scratching their heads—some even speculating that a mysterious “curse” may be at play.
During Saturday’s sprint race at the Miami International Autodrome, Verstappen looked poised to secure a respectable finish and collect some points. However, disaster struck when he came into the pits. In a bizarre and costly moment, the Red Bull Racing crew released Verstappen’s car straight into the path of Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli. The ensuing collision not only damaged Verstappen’s race but also resulted in a post-race penalty. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner later described the incident as a “human error,” a rare admission from a team usually known for near-flawless execution.
What makes this blunder all the more perplexing is that it seemed entirely out of character. The Red Bull garage has built a reputation for precision and efficiency. Yet, during this chaotic Miami sprint race, they fumbled at a critical moment. This lapse handed Verstappen a 10-second penalty, relegating him to 17th place in the final sprint standings—a brutal blow, especially considering that only the top eight finishers earn points in sprint races.
Verstappen’s misfortune in Miami continues a curious trend. Despite being one of the most consistent and successful drivers of his generation, he has struggled to find success in Miami since the race was added to the calendar. This has led to a new and somewhat tongue-in-cheek theory making the rounds on social media: the “Miami Grand Prix curse.” Fans, especially on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), have been pointing out a pattern of misfortune whenever certain high-profile celebrities visit the Red Bull garage—most notably members of the K-pop group Blackpink.
During the 2024 Miami GP weekend, LISA, a member of Blackpink, visited the Red Bull paddock. Her visit was widely publicized, especially since she was also given the honor of waving the chequered flag for Sunday’s race. While such celebrity appearances are common in Formula 1, some fans have drawn a peculiar link between their presence and Verstappen’s dip in performance. They point to similar scenes at the 2023 Miami GP, where another Blackpink member, ROSÉ, was seen enjoying the festivities from the Red Bull garage, coinciding with another less-than-stellar result for Verstappen.
Though most fans take the theory as light-hearted superstition, the idea of a “celebrity curse” is not new in sports. Athletes and fans alike often cling to rituals, lucky charms, and superstitions to maintain their edge. In Verstappen’s case, these celebrity sightings at the Miami GP appear to coincide with rare, uncharacteristic struggles, fueling the playful yet persistent narrative.
This year’s Miami sprint race wasn’t just a challenge for Verstappen. It was a chaotic affair from start to finish. Charles Leclerc crashed before the lights even went out, and both Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz were forced to retire early, leaving a trail of carnage on the track. The drama was almost cinematic, and coverage by Sky F1 even highlighted Blackpink’s members enjoying the action, prompting viewers online to remark on the eerie correlation.
Despite the humorous undertones of the “curse” theory, Verstappen’s record shows just how unusual this weekend’s outcome truly was. Before Miami, the last time Verstappen failed to score a single point in a race was back in August 2016 at the Belgian Grand Prix—an astonishing 3,170 days ago. In that time, he has established himself as one of the greatest drivers of his generation, with a level of consistency and resilience that makes this kind of result almost unthinkable.
Naturally, Red Bull will be looking to bounce back immediately. The team has weathered poor weekends before and remains one of the strongest outfits on the grid. However, questions will likely be asked internally about the operational lapse that led to Verstappen’s pit-lane release error. It’s a reminder that even the best teams and drivers are not immune to the occasional mistake.
Whether or not fans truly believe in a “Miami curse,” there’s no denying that the 2024 edition of the Miami GP was one to forget for Max Verstappen. From the botched pit stop to the penalty and ultimate loss of points, it was a weekend of frustration and missed opportunities. The presence of celebrities in the garage may make for great photo ops and viral moments, but when results falter, they inevitably become part of the story.
As the Formula 1 calendar moves forward, Verstappen will no doubt have his eyes set on redemption. With his skill, experience, and championship pedigree, a bounce-back performance seems inevitable. But for now, Miami remains a curious outlier in his otherwise dominant career—a place where even the best seem to falter.
Will the “curse” strike again next year, or will Verstappen finally conquer the Magic City?
