Lando Norris claimed victory in the Miami Grand Prix Sprint, leading a McLaren one-two and tightening the title fight as Kimi Antonelli lost points through a time penalty for repeated track-limits offences. Norris started from pole, controlled the race, and collected the full eight points, while Oscar Piastri followed closely to secure second place for McLaren.
Charles Leclerc completed the podium after a solid run for Ferrari, finishing ahead of George Russell, who gained an extra place after Antonelli’s post-race sanction. Championship leader Antonelli originally passed the flag in fourth, but the stewards judged that track limits had been exceeded too often, dropping Antonelli to sixth behind Max Verstappen.
Verstappen finished ahead of Lewis
Hamilton after a firm on-track fight with the Ferrari driver, adding further spice to the midfield order. Behind Hamilton, Pierre Gasly brought Alpine into the points with eighth place. The penalty cost Antonelli two points, yet Antonelli still holds the lead in the drivers’ standings, with Russell and Leclerc the closest rivals.
Norris extended a strong Miami Sprint record, as the reigning champion repeated the win from last year’s event. Once again Norris converted pole into victory, with Piastri unable to launch a successful attack despite keeping the pressure high. Norris handled the hot and humid conditions while maintaining enough pace to keep team-mate and rivals at arm’s length.
After stepping out of the car, Norris summed up the outing by saying: "It was a good Sprintnice to be back on the top step. Our [upgrades] have really helped, Norris said. It was hot out there, it was sweaty. I was still pushing. It's a nice start to the weekend, but now I have to do it all again. " The result gives McLaren momentum heading into the main Grand Prix session.
The 100-kilometre Sprint had problems even before the lights went out. Nico Hulkenberg could not take the start after a mechanical issue struck the car on the way to the grid. Arvid Lindblad’s race ended earlier still, with a technical fault preventing Lindblad from joining the field at all, reducing the number of cars in action.
The full points scorers from the Miami Grand Prix Sprint are listed below, underlining McLaren’s strong return and the impact of Antonelli’s penalty on the final order.
| Position | Driver | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren |
| 2 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren |
| 3 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 4 | George Russell | Mercedes |
| 5 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull |
| 6 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| 7 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari |
| 8 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine |
Despite the setback, Antonelli retains a nine-point margin over Mercedes team-mate Georges Russell in the drivers’ table, while Leclerc holds third place. In the constructors’ race, Mercedes lead on 135 points, with Ferrari on 90 and McLaren on 46, figures that highlight how valuable Norris and Piastri’s Sprint haul could become.
| Drivers' | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 72 |
| Georges Russell | Mercedes | 63 |
| Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 49 |
| Team | Points |
|---|---|
| Mercedes | 135 |
| Ferrari | 90 |
| McLaren | 46 |
The Miami Grand Prix Sprint therefore strengthens Norris’s position as defending Sprint champion at this venue and underlines McLaren’s growing presence in both championships. With Antonelli still ahead overall and Mercedes leading the constructors’ contest, the main race now promises further shifts in the standings across the grid.
