Norris wins chaotic Miami sprint from Piastri

Dominika Jordan
May 3, 2025, 01:28 PM ET

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Lewis Hamilton, 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix. Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1/Mercedes-AMG

Lando Norris Triumphs in Dramatic Miami Grand Prix Sprint

Lando Norris emerged as the victor in a dramatic Sprint at the Miami Grand Prix, with the Briton making a perfectly timed pit stop during a late Safety Car period to hold the lead to the end ahead of his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri.

Leclerc Crashes in Pre-Race Drama

Heavy rain descended upon the Miami International Autodrome prior to the event, catching out Charles Leclerc, who crashed on his way to the grid, eliminating him from the running before the Sprint had even begun. As the formation lap kicked off in challenging visibility, the red flags were promptly thrown.

When racing eventually restarted under improved conditions, polesitter Kimi Antonelli lost ground to Piastri at the start. The McLaren driver held the inside line at Turn 1 to move ahead, while Antonelli slipped down to fourth after a wide moment. Piastri held a steady lead for several laps amidst drivers pitting for slick tires as conditions changed. It was a chaotic sequence of events later on that saw Norris become the new leader after Piastri pitted. Norris made his pit stop just as the Safety Car was called following a crash by Fernando Alonso.

McLaren Dominate the Podium

Norris led home Piastri for a McLaren 1-2, with Lewis Hamilton taking third place after a solid strategy call from Ferrari. Williams' Alex Albon claimed fourth ahead of Mercedes' George Russell, Aston Martin's Lance Stroll, Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson, and Haas' Ollie Bearman in the points-paying positions. However, both Lawson and Albon are set to be investigated by the stewards for separate incidents after the Sprint.

Antonelli Makes History

Sprint Qualifying on Friday set the grid for the 100km dash, awarding points to the top eight finishers. Kimi Antonelli, at 18 years old, became F1's youngest-ever polesitter by holding off the McLarens of Piastri and Norris.

Rain Disrupts Strategy

Ahead of the Sprint, Yuki Tsunoda, who qualified P18, started from the pit lane due to a suspension setup change under parc ferme conditions. As torrential rain hit the Miami International Autodrome, Leclerc slid into the walls en route to the grid, prematurely ending his Sprint.

With the rain having stopped before the 19-lap encounter started, questions over tire choices emerged. When tire blankets were removed ahead of the formation lap, all drivers opted for intermediate tires, except Carlos Sainz, who chose full wets.

With visibility issues causing significant spray, Antonelli and Piastri struggled during the formation lap, while Max Verstappen went wide. The red flag was thrown, bringing all 19 cars back to the pit lane before the race resumed at 12:28 local time, leading to another formation lap.

Piastri Takes Early Lead

As the lights went out, Piastri took the lead from Antonelli after a side-by-side battle at Turn 1, with the latter dropping behind Norris and Verstappen. Piastri extended his lead to 1.7 seconds, eventually building a solid advantage from teammate Norris.

Chaos in the Pit Lane

Lap 11 saw drivers contemplating a switch to slick tires, with Tsunoda making the first move, followed by Hamilton, who bolted on softs. A flurry of pit stops ensued, with Verstappen and Antonelli making contact in the pit lane, resulting in debris scattering across the track.

Sainz suffered a puncture, forcing him to retire. Meanwhile, Piastri pitted for mediums on Lap 14, leaving Norris in the lead, who then pitted on Lap 15 just as the Safety Car was called following Alonso's crash.

Norris Seals Victory

Norris reemerged as race leader ahead of Piastri, Hamilton, and Verstappen—who received a 10-second time penalty for a potential unsafe release in the pit lane. Replays showed Alonso had been tagged by Lawson, triggering a spin into the barriers, an incident noted for investigation post-Sprint.

As the Safety Car led the field to the finish, Norris crossed the line in P1, securing his first win since the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. Hamilton followed the McLaren pair in third. Albon took fourth for Williams, with Russell in fifth, Stroll in sixth, Lawson in seventh, and Bearman completing the top eight.