Lando Norris beats teammate Oscar Piastri in eventful sprint race at rainy Miami Grand Prix

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Lando Norris beat McLaren Racing teammate Oscar Piastri to win the sprint race held Saturday ahead of qualifying for the Miami Grand Prix.

“My luck in Miami seems pretty good at this minute,” said Norris, who will try to defend last year’s Miami victory on Sunday.

The 18-lap sprint was eventful even before it started as heavy rain drenched the course and Charles Leclerc crashed in the wet conditions driving his Ferrari out to the grid for the start of the race. He wasn’t able to compete in the sprint as Ferrari worked to repair his car in time for qualifying.

The start of the race was then delayed because drivers said the rain made conditions too dangerous and visibility was a concern. And when it finally went green, with 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli leading the standing start as the youngest pole-winner in F1 history, his time out front was brief. Piastri beat the Mercedes driver into the first turn and Antonelli drove off the track and slipped to fourth.

He was later hit in the pits by Max Verstappen, who received a 10-second penalty for an unsafe release. Antonelli finished 11th and Verstappen, who had been running third, finished 17th and failed to earn any points for the event.

Second place finisher McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia greets fan during a trophy ceremony after the Sprint race at the Formula One Miami Grand Prix auto race, Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

The race ended under yellow because Liam Lawson ran into Fernando Alonso, causing Alonso to crash with three laps remaining. The safety prevented Piastri from trying to reclaim the lead from teammate Norris, who won the Miami Grand Prix last year for his first career F1 victory.

“I don’t think I’m going to be buying a lottery ticket around this place,” Piastri said. “I feel like I did everything right so a bit disappointed to come in second.”

Lewis Hamilton finished third for Ferrari. He moved ahead of Verstappen before Verstappen served his penalty.

“I’m so happy with that, it’s been a tough year so far,” said Hamilton, who is in his first season driving for Ferrari. “I never thought it would rain in Miami, it’s the first time we’ve all been in the wet here, and what a race it provided us.”

Alex Albon finished fourth for Williams and was followed by George Russell of Mercedes.

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands reacts to damages during the Sprint race at the Miami Formula One Grand Prix at the International Autodrome, Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Shawn Thew/Pool Photo via AP)

Alonso, Carlos Sainz Jr., and Leclerc did not complete the race.

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia steers his car during the Sprint race at the Formula One Miami Grand Prix auto race, Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Drivers participate in a safety car lap before the Sprint race at the Formula One Miami Grand Prix auto race, Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Drivers participate in a safety car lap before the Sprint race at the Formula One Miami Grand Prix auto race, Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli of Italy greets fans before the Sprint race at the Formula One Miami Grand Prix auto race, Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia steers his car during the Sprint race at the Formula One Miami Grand Prix auto race, Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

___

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community? Create a free account to comment on stories, ask questions, and join meaningful discussions on our new site.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.
The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.