Norris wins Miami Sprint, Hamilton grabs P3 with courageous strategy

McLaren driver Lando Norris grabbed victory in the Miami F1 Sprint, heading a one-two for the Woking-based outfit while Ferrari's seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton grabbed third spot thanks to a strategy masterstroke.

As the rain started to fall heavily when the pit lane was opened for the drivers to head out to the grid. Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc aquaplaned off into the walls on his sighting lap, and that ended any chance he had of starting the Sprint today.

Although the sprint started without any delay, drivers complained about visibility, and the race was red-flagged. The sprint got going half an hour later behind the safety car, and with drivers reporting better visibility, the race direction elected to start the race with a standard standing start.

Having become the 14th Italian to set the quickest lap in a grid-deciding session, Andrea Kimi Antonelli did not get away well, and Piastri got alongside the Italian. The Australian had the inside line into Turn 1 and made the pass on Antonelli, who skated wide and dropped down to P4.

By Lap 4, Piastri held an advantage of 1.7s from his team-mate while Alonso held onto the last point-scoring position. In the meantime, Hamilton was in sixth just ahead of Alexander Albon and the Spaniard.

The next laps saw the sunshine come out, and the track started to dry quickly. In the meantime, Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson complained about their visor, with both of them struggled with fogged up visors out there in the humidity.

On Lap 10, Hamilton was complaining about his car not steering, and his tyres were looking in pretty bad shape out there.

The next tour saw Yuki Tsunona gamble for slicks, while Hamilton made the same on the next lap, with Carlos Sainz and Lance Stroll also following the seven-time F1 champion.

Out at the front, Norris closed in on his team-mate, and was within a second which allowed him to use his DRS.

In the meantime, there was drama in the pit lane as Antonelli and Verstappen made contact as the Dutchman was released into the Italian's way as Antonelli was pulling into his box. Out on the track, Sainz had a puncture after having made contact with the walls.

Lando Norris waited until Lap 15 to pit for slicks, and he might have lost out to his team-mate and Hamilton, the safety car was deployed which salvaged Norris' day.

The interruption was brought out after two-time F1 champion Fernando Alonso was tagged by Lawson and spun into the barriers.

The pack spent the remaining three laps behind the safety car, and Norris crossed the finish line first to record his first victory of any kind since Melbourne. Piastri finished second ahead of Hamilton, while Verstappen dropped down the order as he was handed a ten-second penalty for his unsafe release after his stop.

Williams driver Alex Albon finished fourth ahead of Russell, Stroll, Lawson and Bearman.