Lando Norris Triumphs in Miami Grand Prix Sprint Race

Miami, USA – Lando Norris secured a dramatic victory in the sprint race of the Miami Grand Prix on Saturday, taking advantage of tricky weather conditions. The McLaren driver finished ahead of his teammate Oscar Piastri, who came in second, while Ferrari‘s Lewis Hamilton claimed third place following a timely strategic call.

The race was marked by chaos for defending world champion Max Verstappen, who faced a significant setback. The Red Bull driver was penalized for an unsafe release during a pit stop, dropping from fourth to 17th place. This incident left him 21 points behind Piastri in the championship standings.

Verstappen expressed relief that no one was injured during the race, referring to the incident as “human error.” Red Bull team principal Christian Horner acknowledged the mistake and its impact on the race.

As rain fell before the race, conditions on the circuit deteriorated. The formation lap began behind a safety car due to the heavy rainfall, prompting poor visibility. After one lap, the race was red-flagged, and Charles Leclerc was caught out, hitting the wall and unable to start.

After a 30-minute delay, the race resumed under the safety car, before transitioning to a standing start for 16 laps. Piastri quickly passed pole-sitter Kimi Antonelli, who ultimately finished seventh. With clear air, Piastri initially maintained a lead over Norris and Verstappen.

However, following a shift in track conditions, the option for slick tires arose by lap 11. Ferrari’s early pit strategy for Hamilton placed him in a strong position, advancing him to third. Verstappen’s subsequent stop led to a collision with Antonelli, resulting in damage to his car and a 10-second penalty.

In a strategic maneuver, McLaren capitalized on the situation, pitting Piastri and Norris after the safety car was called due to a crash involving Fernando Alonso. Norris managed to emerge from the pit lane just ahead of Piastri, seizing the lead.

“Every moment counts,” Hamilton said, highlighting his recent struggles with Ferrari since winning the sprint race in Shanghai. He emphasized the need for continued improvements to remain competitive.

Norris’s win marks his second sprint race victory, bringing him closer to championship leader Piastri, who is now only nine points ahead.

Ahead of the race, McLaren team principal Zak Brown called for changes to F1 regulations to deter what he termed “bogus allegations,” referencing a previous claim made by Red Bull against McLaren.

After penalties were applied post-race, George Russell finished fourth for Mercedes, followed by Lance Stroll in fifth for Aston Martin. Yuki Tsunoda took sixth for Red Bull, while Pierre Gasly rounded out the top eight for Alpine.