Lando Norris capitalized on perfect timing and changing weather conditions to secure victory for McLaren in Saturday’s action-packed Formula 1 Sprint race at the Miami International Autodrome. The British driver led teammate Oscar Piastri in a McLaren 1-2 finish, with Lewis Hamilton rounding out the podium in what proved to be one of the most eventful Sprint races since the format’s introduction.
The 18-lap race was filled with drama from start to finish, beginning with a 30-minute delay due to a sudden Florida downpour that transformed the normally sun-drenched circuit into a treacherous challenge. Charles Leclerc became the day’s first casualty when his Ferrari slid into the barriers during the formation lap, forcing him to watch the proceedings from the garage.
Weather drama sets the stage
Race officials initially sent cars out behind the safety car for evaluation laps, but quickly displayed red flags due to the dangerous levels of standing water. “The visibility is genuinely the worst I’ve ever had in a race car,” Piastri was heard saying over team radio, highlighting the treacherous conditions facing the drivers.
When racing finally resumed with a standing start, all cars fitted with intermediate tires, it was championship leader Piastri who reacted fastest, out-dragging pole-sitter Kimi Antonelli into Turn 1. The 18-year-old Mercedes rookie found himself squeezed wide and dropped to fourth position behind Norris and Verstappen.
McLaren’s perfect strategy
As the track began to dry midway through the race, teams faced the critical decision of when to switch to slick tires. The transition phase created several incidents, none more significant than when Verstappen was released from his pit box directly into Antonelli’s path, damaging the Red Bull‘s front wing and earning the world champion a 10-second time penalty.
The pivotal moment came when Piastri pitted from the lead on lap 14 for medium compound tires. Norris, running second at the time, stayed out one lap longer – a decision that initially appeared questionable but transformed into a masterstroke when the safety car was deployed moments later following incidents involving Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz.
This perfect timing allowed Norris to complete his pit stop while the field was neutralized, emerging ahead of his teammate to inherit a lead he would maintain until the checkered flag, which fell with the safety car still on track.
Hamilton completes the podium
“What an incredible race! The conditions were so tricky at the start,” said a delighted Norris afterward. “I made the call to pit at just the right moment, and sometimes in racing, timing is everything. A McLaren 1-2 is a fantastic result for the whole team.”
While Verstappen’s penalty dropped him out of the points entirely, Hamilton delivered an impressive drive for Ferrari, making an early switch to slick tires that vaulted him from sixth on the grid to the final podium position.
Williams’ Alexander Albon continued his impressive form with fourth place ahead of George Russell, while Lance Stroll secured a strong sixth for Aston Martin. Liam Lawson and rookie Oliver Bearman rounded out the points-scoring positions.
Championship implications
The results tighten the championship battle, with Piastri maintaining his lead but seeing Norris close the gap to just 9 points. The top three drivers are now separated by less than a race win’s worth of points, setting up a fascinating battle heading into Sunday’s main Grand Prix.
Weather forecasters predict clearer conditions for tomorrow’s qualifying session and race, but after today’s demonstration of McLaren’s growing strength in all conditions, the battle for supremacy in Formula 1 appears increasingly competitive.
For Norris, this victory will be particularly sweet, coming exactly one year after he claimed his first Grand Prix win at this very circuit in 2024. Miami is quickly becoming a happy hunting ground for both driver and team, who will be looking to repeat their success in tomorrow’s full-length race.
