Norris Secures Miami GP Sprint Win in Chaotic Race; Piastri Second, Hamilton Third; Verstappen Penalized

Lando Norris capitalised on fortunate circumstances to secure victory in a chaotic wet-dry Miami GP Sprint race, ending McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri`s recent winning form. Lewis Hamilton finished third, while Max Verstappen was demoted outside the points.

The start of the short Sprint race was initially delayed by 30 minutes following unexpected heavy rain showers at the Miami International Autodrome. What became a reduced 16-lap race delivered excitement from beginning to end.

Norris ultimately triumphed, benefiting from the timing of a late Safety Car caused by Fernando Alonso`s crash with three laps remaining.

Piastri had led the race but pitted for dry tyres at the end of lap 14. With the Australian then running at a controlled speed behind the Safety Car due to Alonso`s incident, Norris lost less time in the pits than he otherwise would have. This allowed him to make his own stop and re-emerge back on track ahead of his teammate.

This win comes a year after another opportune Safety Car helped Norris overtake Verstappen and secure his first Grand Prix victory at the same circuit. With significant debris on the track, the race concluded under controlled conditions.

Norris`s win reduces Piastri`s lead in the championship standings by one point, leaving him nine points ahead heading into Sunday`s main Grand Prix.

Hamilton was among the first drivers to switch to slick tyres, a strategy that transformed his race. He climbed from a challenging sixth place to secure third, marking his second Sprint podium 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 after the race. “I was losing pace and I couldn`t keep up with the guys ahead.”

However, Hamilton`s teammate Charles Leclerc did not even start the race, having crashed when heavy rain began on his lap to the original grid. Ferrari had sent both cars out on intermediate tyres, but the sudden intense rain caused Leclerc to aquaplane into the barrier, rendering the car unable to race.

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 his Red Bull car was released from its pit stop directly into the path of Antonelli`s oncoming Mercedes. The collision resulted in a broken front wing for the Red Bull, and forced Antonelli to miss his scheduled stop. Antonelli eventually finished 10th on track, although he was later classified higher after penalties to others.

Post-Sprint Penalties Shuffle Points Places

Highlighting 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 the race finished with the cars bunched up behind the Safety Car, these penalties were particularly impactful, causing all three drivers to drop out of the points.

Alex Albon, who had finished a strong fourth for Williams, was given a five-second sanction for exceeding the controlled speed behind the Safety Car. This promoted Mercedes` George Russell and Aston Martin`s Lance Stroll one place each to fourth and fifth respectively.

Racing Bulls` Liam Lawson also received a five-second penalty for causing the spin that sent Alonso into the barriers and triggered the Safety Car. This penalty cost the New Zealander what would have been seventh place. Oliver Bearman, who had driven from 19th to eighth, lost his eighth place after receiving his own five-second demotion for an unsafe pit release by his Haas team.

As a result of these penalties, Antonelli was officially classified in seventh place, with Alpine`s Pierre Gasly inheriting the final point in eighth.

`I won`t be buying lottery tickets at this place` – Piastri laments late misfortune

For much of the absorbing Sprint race, it seemed likely that Piastri would increase his title lead over Norris by an additional point, rather than losing one. He had seized the lead from polesitter Antonelli at the start.

Piastri`s move on Antonelli at the first corner was reminiscent of his pass on Verstappen two weeks prior in Saudi Arabia. Starting second, the Australian held the inside line, while Antonelli ran wide onto the run-off area in Miami, losing places to Norris and Verstappen as well.

Antonelli complained over team radio that Piastri had forced him off track, but Race Control disagreed and took no action against the McLaren driver.

On intermediate tyres, Piastri initially built a comfortable lead of around two seconds over Norris. However, as the track dried in the final six laps and rivals began switching to slicks, the gap started to close.

As the leading McLaren, Piastri was given preference when the team eventually made the change on lap 14. But the Safety Car`s appearance on the following lap inadvertently handed the pit-stop advantage to Norris, allowing him to stay ahead after his own stop.

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

Speaking later, 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, conversely, 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 commented. “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 Costly Points After Red Bull Error

Verstappen was running third behind the McLarens when he made his fateful pit stop to switch to slicks on lap 13.

“It was a human error. We will learn from it,” said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner after Verstappen was released too early from his pit box, colliding with Antonelli.

Verstappen, whose car sustained a broken front wing and was overtaken by Hamilton on his return to the track, crossed the finish line in fourth place before the 10-second penalty for the pit lane incident relegated him to the back of the 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 for fourth place means he is now 19 points behind Piastri in the Sprint standings ahead of Sunday`s Grand Prix.