MIAMI GARDNS, Fla. — McLaren driver Randnoris won the Formula 1 Sprint Race Saturday in Miami after a rainy contest produced a crash and Marshall finished under a “safety car” as debris was collected on track.
Norris started in third and jumped to second in the first corner before overtaking fellow McLaren driver Oscar Piastri in a frenzy series of pit stops during the final stretch of the race.
“A lovely job. A well done boy,” the modest Norris said on Team Radio.
It was a encouraging victory for Norris after struggling with his recent race and losing the championship, leading to Piastri, who placed second ahead of Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton.
“I’m very pleased with that,” said Hamilton, a seven-time world champion in his first year with Ferrari, after the sprint race. “It’s been a tough year so far.”
It was a tragic sprint race for Mercedes rookie Kimi Antoneri, who took the sensational pole position on Friday. However, he lost his position in the first corner in his battle with Piastri, and his car was attacked by Red Bull world champion Max Verstappen in the pit lane.
Antoneri accused Piastri of unfairly pushing him off the truck in the first corner, but officials deemed his maneuvering effective and did nothing. He finished 10th outside of points.
Verstappen, who ran third for most of the race, was given a 10-second penalty for an “dangerous release” at his pit stop, an error by his team.
The shortened race, delayed by heavy rain, included multiple collisions. Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc slipped into the wall on the lap of the grid and failed to start. Williams driver Carlos Sine failed to finish after punctured the tire.
On the final lap, Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso crashed after a collision with Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson.
