05/02/26 01:49:00
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05/02 12:07 CDT Mercedes' podium streak ends in Miami as McLaren delivers a 1-2
punch
Mercedes' podium streak ends in Miami as McLaren delivers a 1-2 punch
By JENNA FRYER
AP Auto Racing Writer
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) --- Mercedes was knocked off the podium for the first
time this season when Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri finished 1-2 for McLaren
in Formula 1's sprint race Saturday at the Miami Grand Prix.
Charles Leclerc was third for Ferrari in the 19-lap preview of Sunday's race at
the Miami International Autodrome around the Hard Rock Stadium.
"It was a good race, nice to be back on the top stair even if it was a sprint,"
said Norris, who won from the pole. "It was hot out there, it was sweaty. I was
trying to find that balance of pushing but also staying relaxed and not making
mistakes."
McLaren, like most teams, used a five-week break caused by race cancellations
in the Middle East because of the war in Iran to make upgrades to its cars. The
changes for the reigning world champion team clearly showed it has closed the
gap on Mercedes, which has dominated so far this season.
The Formula 1 season ahead of Miami had been a clean sweep by Mercedes as
George Russell and Kimi Antonelli combined to win the first three grand prix
races and the sprint race in China. Russell won in Australia, while Antonelli
won in China and Japan to take the lead in the world championship driver
standings. Russell won the sprint race in China.
The Mercedes duo was blocked from the podium in Miami as Russell finished
fourth and Antonelli was sixth after a five-second penalty for exceeding track
limits dropped him behind Max Verstappen in the final finishing order.
Verstappen was fifth for Red Bull and Lewis Hamilton for Ferrari was right
behind him but finished seventh. The two had an early race incident in which
Hamilton was ordered to give Verstappen his position back after passing him.
Cadillac, in its first event in the United States, was at the back of the field
with drivers Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas finishing 16th and 18th in the
22-driver field.
Norris, the reigning F1 champion, won the sprint race at Miami for the second
consecutive year.
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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
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