Miami GP: Norris leads McLaren 1-2 in chaotic Sprint
Lando Norris emerged victorious on Saturday in a turbulent and weather-affected Sprint race at the Miami Grand Prix,... The post Miami GP: Norris leads McLaren 1-2 in chaotic Sprint appeared first on F1i.com.
Lando Norris emerged victorious on Saturday in a turbulent and weather-affected Sprint race at the Miami Grand Prix, taking his first sprint win ahead of McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton.
The 18-lap mad dash was filled with drama, strategy gambles, and collisions — all playing out on a drying track that kept teams and drivers guessing until the end.
Rain-soaked conditions forced a nearly 30-minute delay before the race finally got underway with a standing start.
The field – minus Charles Leclerc who had crashed on his way to the grid – completed two laps behind the safety car before the lights went out, with rookie Kimi Antonelli starting from a sensational maiden pole position.
However, the Mercedes rookie lost the lead immediately as Piastri lunged down the inside at Turn 1. The Italian ran wide and fell back to fourth, behind Norris and Max Verstappen, but ahead of teammate George Russell.
Piastri seized control early, managing the intermediate tyres smartly as the track began to dry.
Mid-Race Tyre Gamble Shakes Up the Order
With a dry line forming by lap 11, Yuki Tsunoda rolled the dice first, switching to slicks and setting a crucial benchmark. Lewis Hamilton followed a lap later, along with several others, as soft and medium compounds rapidly proved faster than worn inters.
Verstappen and Antonelli boxed on lap 13, but chaos ensued in the pit lane. Red Bull released Verstappen unsafely into Antonelli’s path, damaging the Dutchman's front wing and forcing Antonelli to drive through without stopping – an error that cost both drivers dearly.
Hamilton’s early switch to slicks paid off handsomely, propelling him past Verstappen, who struggled with his compromised car. Further drama struck when Fernando Alonso collided with Liam Lawson, bringing out the safety car and neutralizing the field with just a few laps to go.
Pivotal Pit Stops and Late Safety Car
Both Piastri and Norris responded to Hamilton’s charge by diving into the pits for medium tyres, and the timing proved decisive. Norris narrowly rejoined ahead of Piastri just as the safety car was deployed, putting him in control of the race lead.
With no further laps under green flag conditions, Norris cruised home behind the safety car to claim victory, trimming Piastri’s championship lead from 10 to nine points.
Hamilton completed the podium, while Alex Albon delivered an impressive fourth-place finish for Williams. Russell took fifth, ahead of Lance Stroll and Liam Lawson, who climbed from 15th to seventh. Haas rookie Oliver Bearman claimed the final point in eighth.
Verstappen was handed a 10-second penalty for his unsafe release and dropped to 16th, while Antonelli, after a second stop for mediums, ended up a frustrated 10th and out of the points.
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