McLaren dominates sprint race, but Piastri stutters in qualifying
Ian Chadband
McLaren enjoyed their best race of the Formula 1 season as Lando Norris beat Oscar Piastri one-two in the Miami Grand Prix sprint. But the Australian runner-up struggled when he lost pace in qualifying.
Piastri was 3.766 seconds behind his world champion team-mate in Saturday’s 19-lap sprint, suggesting McLaren’s improvements may have changed the season.
But McLaren’s enthusiasm quickly faded as Piastri qualified only seventh and Norris fourth in Sunday’s main race; Championship leader Kimi Antonelli proved Mercedes’ mastery again by taking three pole positions in a row.
On a day when Max Verstappen returned to his best performance at Red Bull by finishing second in qualifying, ahead of third-place Ferrari pilot Charles Leclerc, world champion brands McLaren were disappointed with suggestions about power unit problems in qualifying.
Piastri had earlier held off a late challenge from third-placed Leclerc in the sprint to earn seven much-needed points in the title race.
“Yes, I’m mostly satisfied,” he shrugged; McLaren was happy to move up from third in the standings as it ended Mercedes’ early winning streak in the first race since there was an enforced break in the F1 season due to disputes in the Middle East.
“Of course I have to find some to stay with Lando, but overall it was a nice morning.”
Norris also could not hide his joy at regaining the feeling of victory in 2025 after collecting eight points by controlling the race from pole position with little trouble as Mercedes fell off the podium for the first time in 2026.
However, when qualifying came with strong winds, things changed dramatically and Piastri only managed to enter Q2 in 16th place. When he said he qualified safely, he dryly remarked that “safe is a bold word.”
The Melbourne driver had to settle for seventh in qualifying, behind fifth-placed George Russell and sixth-placed Lewis Hamilton, and Sunday’s race looks wide open, especially with storms and rain forecast.
Young Antonelli took pole position with his third consecutive grand prix win after victories in China and Japan made the 19-year-old Italian the youngest driver ever to lead the championship, while Mercedes finished fourth in four races.
However, pole position came after a difficult sprint for Antonelli, who had a poor start from second on the grid, allowing Piastri to pass him. He finished fourth but dropped to sixth after receiving a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits.
Antonelli’s lead narrowed after the Japanese GP on March 29, followed by a break with the cancellation of races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia; the young player with 75 points, his teammate Russell with 68, Leclerc with 55, his Ferrari colleague Lewis Hamilton with 43, Norris with 33 and Piastri with 28 points.
Piastri, who had a bad start to the season by not starting in the first two races, achieved two consecutive second places in the Japan main race and the Miami sprint.
AAP
News, results and expert analysis from the sports weekend delivered every Monday. Sign up for our sports newsletter.
