Lando Norris Claims Victory in Action-Packed Miami GP Sprint

Lando Norris secured a dramatic victory in the chaotic wet-dry Miami GP Sprint race, bringing an end to McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri`s dominant run. The event also saw Lewis Hamilton clinch third place, while Max Verstappen fell out of the points due to a pit-lane collision involving polesitter Kimi Antonelli.

The start of the short Sprint race was delayed by 30 minutes after unexpected heavy rain hit the Miami International Autodrome. When it finally got underway as a reduced 16-lap event, it delivered excitement from start to finish.

Norris ultimately claimed the win, benefiting significantly from the timing of a late Safety Car period triggered by Fernando Alonso`s crash just three laps from the end.

Piastri had taken the lead from Norris after pitting for dry tires at the end of lap 14. However, with the Australian back on track and forced to maintain a controlled speed due to Alonso`s accident, Norris lost less time during his subsequent pit stop. This allowed him to make his stop and rejoin the track still ahead of his teammate`s car.

This victory marks the second time Norris has benefited from a fortuitous Safety Car timing at this circuit, echoing the circumstances that helped him secure his maiden Grand Prix win here a year prior. Due to the extensive debris on track, the race concluded under Safety Car conditions.

Norris`s win reduces Piastri`s championship lead by one point, bringing the gap to nine points heading into Sunday`s main Grand Prix.

Hamilton was among the first drivers to switch to slick tires, a strategy that significantly transformed his race. He climbed from a struggling sixth place to secure third, marking his second Sprint podium finish after his win in China.

“It was my call [to pit]. But it was coming from the fact I was struggling so much on the intermediates,” Hamilton commented. “I was losing pace and I couldn`t keep up with the guys ahead.”

However, Hamilton`s teammate Charles Leclerc was unable to start the race at all after crashing on his lap to the original grid when heavy rain began.

Ferrari had sent both cars out on intermediate tires, but the sudden, intense rain meant the grip offered by that compound was entirely insufficient. Leclerc aquaplaned into the barrier with no control over the car.

World champion Verstappen also failed to score points for the first time this year, finishing 17th and last. He received a 10-second penalty after Red Bull released his car from a pit stop directly into the path of Antonelli`s oncoming Mercedes.

The two cars made contact, resulting in a broken front wing for the Red Bull. Antonelli was forced to continue down the pit lane, missing his scheduled stop. He eventually finished 10th on track but was later classified in seventh place.

Miami GP Sprint: Revised top 8

• 1) Lando Norris, McLaren
• 2) Oscar Piastri, McLaren
• 3) Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
• 4) George Russell, Mercedes
• 5) Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
• 6) Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull
• 7) Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
• 8) Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Post-Sprint Penalties Reshape Points Standings

Underlining the chaotic nature of the Sprint, three drivers who initially finished in the top-eight points-paying positions received costly post-race penalties from the stewards.

Given that the race finished with the field closely bunched behind the Safety Car, these penalties proved particularly detrimental, causing all three drivers to drop out of the points.

Alex Albon, who had finished a commendable fourth for Williams, was handed a five-second sanction for driving too fast behind the Safety Car. As a result, Mercedes` George Russell and Aston Martin`s Lance Stroll each moved up one position to fourth and fifth respectively.

Racing Bulls` Liam Lawson also received a five-second penalty for making contact with Alonso, causing the spin that led to the Safety Car. This cost the New Zealander what would have been seventh place. Oliver Bearman, who had impressively climbed from 19th to eighth, lost his position after being given a five-second penalty for an unsafe pit release by his Haas team.

Consequently, Antonelli was classified seventh, and Alpine`s Pierre Gasly secured the final point in eighth place.

`I won`t be buying lottery tickets at this place` – Piastri Reflects on Late Misfortune

For much of the absorbing Sprint contest, it appeared that Piastri was set to increase his title advantage over Norris by one point. He had seized the lead from Antonelli at the start.

Piastri`s move on the Mercedes rookie at the first corner was reminiscent of his maneuver on Max Verstappen two weeks prior at the start of the Saudi Arabian GP. Starting from second on the grid, the Australian held the inside line for the first corner, forcing his opponent wide.

This time, Piastri emerged from the first turn ahead on track. The nature of the run-off area in Miami sent Antonelli wide, causing him to lose further places to both Norris and Verstappen.

Antonelli complained over team radio that Piastri had forced him off the track; however, Race Control did not agree with his assessment and took no action against the McLaren driver.

On intermediate tires, Piastri initially built a comfortable lead of around two seconds over Norris. However, as the track dried in the closing six laps, and rivals behind started switching to slicks, the sister McLaren car began closing the gap.

As the leading car, Piastri received priority when McLaren finally made the tire change on lap 14. But the deployment of the Safety Car on the following lap—when Alonso was spun into the barriers by Lawson—inadvertently handed the pit-stop advantage to Norris.

“I don`t think I will be buying any lottery tickets at this place!” a frustrated Piastri lamented over team radio after finishing second.

Speaking in his post-Sprint interview, the Australian added: “I did pretty much everything right. A bit disappointed to come away with second but that`s how it goes sometimes. Racing is a pretty cruel business.”

“Hopefully that means I get a bit of luck this afternoon in qualifying and tomorrow.”

Norris, in contrast, was happy to accept another dose of good fortune in Miami.

“My luck in Miami seems pretty good at the minute, so I`m happy,” he said. “It`s worked two years in a row. I probably would prefer if this happened tomorrow rather than today, but I`ll take it. I`m happy. Good job by the team. It was good fun.”

Verstappen Loses Points After Red Bull Pit Stop Error

Verstappen was running third behind the McLarens when he made his ill-fated visit to the pit lane to switch to slicks on lap 13.

“It was a human error. We will learn from it,” commented Red Bull team boss Christian Horner after the incident, where the Dutchman was released too early from his pit box and collided with Antonelli.

Verstappen, whose front wing was damaged in the collision, was overtaken by Hamilton on his return to the track. He crossed the finish line in fourth place before the 10-second penalty for the incident relegated him to the back of the condensed, Safety Car-controlled field, in 17th position.

“We all don`t want that to happen, but it happened,” Verstappen stated. “It`s something we need to investigate but I`m just happy no one got injured. With these cars if you hit someone, it`s not great.”

“It`s super clear what happened, so there`s not much more for me to add.”

Verstappen`s loss of the five points he would have gained for fourth place means he is now 19 points behind Piastri in the standings ahead of Sunday`s Grand Prix.

Miami GP Sprint Result

*5s penalty applied

**10s penalty applied