Did Lando Norris Just Achieve a Stunning Victory in Miami?

Miami, May 4 (NationPress) Lando Norris achieved a stunning victory in the Sprint at the Miami Grand Prix, taking advantage of a perfectly timed pit stop and a late Safety Car deployment to secure a McLaren 1-2 finish, ahead of Oscar Piastri. The race was filled with unpredictable weather, early collisions, pit lane mayhem, and a series of inquiries that altered the final standings.

Heavy rainfall prior to the Sprint created hazardous conditions at the Miami International Autodrome. Charles Leclerc from Ferrari was the first to retire, crashing out on his way to the grid before the race commenced. A red flag was raised following the formation lap due to reduced visibility, compelling the remaining 19 cars to return to the pit lane.

Once the Sprint resumed under improved conditions, pole-sitter Kimi Antonelli struggled at the start, allowing Piastri to seize the lead into Turn 1. Norris closely followed in second as Antonelli slipped to fourth after an off-track moment.

Meanwhile, the entire field, except for Carlos Sainz on full wets, began on intermediate tyres, as the damp but drying track required rapid strategic shifts.

As the laps progressed, teams started to take risks. Yuki Tsunoda was the first to switch to slicks, triggering a wave of pit stops. Lewis Hamilton made an early decision to switch to softs and gained positions, while chaos ensued when Max Verstappen and Antonelli collided in the pit lane due to an unsafe release by Red Bull, leaving debris scattered and forcing Antonelli to abandon his stop.

The pivotal moment arrived when Piastri pitted from the lead on Lap 14, ceding track position to Norris. Shortly after, Fernando Alonso crashed heavily after being nudged by Liam Lawson, prompting a Safety Car. Norris executed his pit stop just as the caution was issued, perfectly timing his entry to rejoin in the lead, effectively clinching the victory.

As the race concluded under the Safety Car, Norris crossed the finish line first, marking his first win since the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. Piastri followed in second, securing a McLaren 1-2 finish. Hamilton finished third for Ferrari, benefiting from strategy and Verstappen's 10-second penalty for the pit lane incident, which relegated the Red Bull driver out of the points.

Alex Albon delivered an impressive fourth-place finish for Williams, though he faces a post-race investigation for a potential Safety Car infringement. George Russell, Lance Stroll, Liam Lawson, and Ollie Bearman rounded out the points-paying positions, although Lawson is also under review for his involvement in Alonso's crash.