Oscar Piastri emerged victorious at the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday, marking his third consecutive win in the Formula One season. He finished ahead of his McLaren teammate, Lando Norris, with a significant gap of over 35 seconds separating them from Mercedes driver George Russell in third place.
This victory makes Piastri the first McLaren driver since Mika Häkkinen in 1997 to win three races in a row. Following this impressive performance, he now leads the drivers’ championship, boasting a 17-point advantage over Norris.
Norris, who started the race from an outside position next to pole-sitter Max Verstappen, attempted to take the lead at Turn 2 on the opening lap. However, after Verstappen went wide, Norris had to leave the track to avoid a collision and lost four positions as a result. The race stewards reviewed the incident but decided it did not require further investigation.
Piastri began the race in fourth place and took just 14 laps to catch up to Verstappen, ultimately seizing the lead and quickly extending his advantage to eight seconds. Norris managed to pass Verstappen shortly after, securing second place.
McLaren’s strong performance was further amplified during a brief virtual safety car period on Lap 30, allowing the team to execute a double pit stop without significant loss of track position.
### Miami Grand Prix Results
1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren-Mercedes)
2. Lando Norris (McLaren-Mercedes)
3. George Russell (Mercedes)
4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull-Honda)
5. Alexander Albon (Williams-Mercedes)
6. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
7. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
8. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
9. Carlos Sainz (Williams-Mercedes)
10. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull-Honda)
### Key Highlights from the Race Weekend
The Miami International Autodrome, a temporary street circuit measuring 3.36 miles and featuring 19 turns, hosted the race. The grand prix consisted of 57 laps, covering a total distance of 191.58 miles. Max Verstappen had previously set the lap record at this track with a time of 1:29.708s in 2023.
The tire compounds used during the race included the C3 (Hard), C4 (Medium), and C5 (Soft) options, emphasizing the strategic choices available to teams.
### Sprint Weekend Format
This weekend also featured a sprint race, and Lando Norris had a remarkable victory, benefiting from a timely safety car. Over the past two years in Miami, Norris has had both wins attributed to fortunate circumstances during the races.
During the sprint, despite rain affecting tire choices at the start, drivers quickly switched to slick tires as the track dried. An incident involving Liam Lawson and Fernando Alonso brought out the safety car, allowing Norris to gain the lead just before the race concluded under caution.
### Future Outlook
Looking ahead, Piastri and Norris will continue to lead McLaren’s charge as they push for performance in the upcoming races. The Miami Grand Prix showcased the strength of the McLaren team and their ability to capitalize on opportunities.
With the championship still young, the competition remains fierce, and Piastri’s lead presents an exciting narrative for fans and teams alike as they prepare for the challenges of the season ahead.
