McLaren’s Lando Norris emerged victorious in a thrilling sprint race at the Miami Grand Prix, narrowly beating his teammate and championship leader Oscar Piastri in a race that was marred by heavy rain delays. The race saw Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton clinch the third spot on the podium, while young Italian driver Kimi Antonelli, who had started from pole position for Mercedes, finished in tenth place.
Antonelli’s lead was short-lived as Piastri forced him wide at the first turn, causing him to drop down to fourth position. The race had to be delayed for 25 minutes due to the torrential rain, affecting the formation lap. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc crashed out during the formation lap after aquaplaning and hitting the wall.
The race was not without its share of incidents, with Fernando Alonso crashing into the wall after a collision with Liam Lawson, and Carlos Sainz also suffering a crash. A pit-lane contact incident occurred when Max Verstappen of Red Bull pulled out into Antonelli, resulting in a 10-point penalty for Verstappen and a 17th place finish.
Norris managed to come out of the pits just ahead of Piastri and maintained his lead until the race ended under the safety car following Alonso’s crash. Norris expressed his happiness with the win, attributing it to his good luck in Miami.
Hamilton, who made a strategic decision to switch to slick tires early on, was pleased with his podium finish after struggling on intermediate tires. He acknowledged the challenging conditions of the race and expressed his satisfaction with taking the risk that ultimately paid off.
Piastri, despite finishing in second place, was disappointed at not being able to fight back in the final laps but remained optimistic for the upcoming qualifying session. He commended his performance during the race and hoped for better luck in the following races.
Overall, the Miami Grand Prix sprint race was a thrilling and action-packed event, showcasing the talent and determination of the drivers in challenging conditions. The podium finishers demonstrated their skill and strategic prowess, setting the stage for an exciting qualifying session and race day ahead.
