Lando Norris claimed victory in a chaotic sprint race at the Miami Grand Prix, capitalizing on dramatic weather changes and strategic pit stops to beat his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri. Lewis Hamilton, benefiting from a well-timed call by Ferrari, finished in third place, much to the satisfaction of the team. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen’s weekend took a significant hit after being penalized for an unsafe release in the pit lane, which dropped him from fourth to 17th. This error added to the difficulties for the defending champion, leaving him 21 points behind Piastri, who now leads the championship.
The race itself was marked by unpredictable weather, with heavy rain soaking the track just before the start. The formation lap began behind the safety car due to poor visibility, and after just one lap, the race was red-flagged. Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari was already out of the race after he spun on the formation lap and damaged his car. After a 30-minute delay, the race restarted behind the safety car, eventually transitioning to a standing start for the remaining 16 laps.
Piastri made an impressive move off the line, overtaking Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes from second on the grid to take the lead. Antonelli, who had started from pole position, struggled in the wet conditions and finished in seventh place. Piastri looked set to control the race, creating a gap to Norris and Verstappen, but the situation changed once the track began to dry. By lap 11, teams began to bring their drivers in for slick tires, with Ferrari calling Hamilton in early, allowing him to move up into third.
Verstappen, however, encountered trouble when he was released from the pits into the path of Antonelli, resulting in a clash that damaged his front wing. He was handed a 10-second penalty, further derailing his chances. McLaren, acting quickly, brought both of their drivers in for pit stops. Norris, pitting after Piastri, benefited from a safety car period triggered by Fernando Alonso’s crash, which allowed him to rejoin just ahead of his teammate. Norris held onto the lead and successfully defended it to the finish.
Hamilton, who has had a difficult season with Ferrari, found some solace in his third-place finish. The result offered hope for improved performances, especially after a challenging period following his sprint race win in Shanghai. Reflecting on his race, Hamilton expressed optimism, noting that his team had made improvements, but more work was needed to consistently challenge at the front.
This sprint race win for Norris is his second, having previously triumphed in Brazil last year, and it brings him closer to Piastri in the standings, now just nine points behind. Prior to the race, McLaren team principal Zak Brown reignited tensions with Red Bull, calling for changes to the F1 regulations to prevent unfounded allegations from being made between teams. Brown specifically targeted what he described as “bogus allegations,” referencing past claims that McLaren had been injecting water into their tires to keep them cool. He suggested that such allegations should be subjected to a formal process and financial penalties if proven unfounded, with a suggested fee of $25,000 as a deterrent.
Following post-race penalties, Mercedes’ George Russell finished fourth, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll took fifth, Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda was sixth, and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly rounded out the top eight. The chaotic race highlighted the importance of strategy, adaptability, and a bit of luck in navigating the tricky conditions.
