Norris wins Miami Sprint as McLaren ends Mercedes' unbeaten run

Key facts

• Lando Norris won the Miami Sprint on Saturday, ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.
• Norris had taken pole position earlier in Sprint Qualifying with a lap of 1:27.869, 0.222 seconds ahead of Kimi Antonelli.
• Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, who started second, fell to fourth off the line and was later demoted to sixth after a track-limits violation.
• Red Bull's Max Verstappen finished fifth after a close battle with Lewis Hamilton, including wheel contact.
• Audi's Nico Hulkenberg did not start after his car caught fire on the way to the grid.
• The paddock observed a minute of silence for motorsport legend Alex Zanardi, who died on Friday.
• McLaren have now won the last two Miami Grands Prix; Mercedes had won all three rounds before this weekend.

Norris leads McLaren resurgence in Miami Sprint

Lando Norris converted his pole position into a commanding Sprint victory at the Miami International Autodrome on Saturday, leading teammate Oscar Piastri and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc across the line after 19 laps. The win marked McLaren's return to the top step after an extended five-week break, and ended Mercedes' dominant start to the 2026 season, which had seen the Silver Arrows win all three opening rounds. Norris, who also won last year's Miami Sprint, never looked threatened after holding his advantage into the first corner. "A perfect result for us. A nice way to reward the team," he said. "We have a lot of new upgrades on the car. It's nice to feel some grip again."

Antonelli's troubled start and penalty

Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, who had qualified second, lost two positions at the start and was passed by Piastri and Leclerc. He later engaged in a position swap with teammate George Russell before crossing the line in fourth, only to be demoted to sixth after the stewards penalised him for exceeding track limits. Russell, who started sixth, finished fifth on the road but inherited fourth after Antonelli's penalty. Russell, winner of the season opener in Australia, acknowledged McLaren's step forward: "Pretty surprising how big a jump McLaren and Ferrari made. That's pretty damn impressive." He added that Miami's hot conditions were not to his liking.

Verstappen and Hamilton trade touches

Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton were involved in a close battle that saw them rub wheels on the opening lap and again midway through the race. Despite the contact, Verstappen had enough pace to cross the line in sixth, which became fifth after Antonelli's penalty. Hamilton finished seventh. Verstappen, a four-time world champion, had qualified fifth for the 100-kilometre Sprint, which awards eight points to the winner. The Dutchman's performance suggested Red Bull remains in the mix despite McLaren's upgraded package.

Hulkenberg's fire and other retirements

Audi's hopes of scoring a point were dashed when Nico Hulkenberg's car caught fire on the way to the grid, forcing him to withdraw before the start. Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad, who was due to start from the pit lane after a parc fermé infringement, never made it onto the track. Williams' Alex Albon stopped for a front-wing change late in the race and finished 19th, while Cadillac's Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas ended their first home race in 17th and 20th respectively. Gabriel Bortoleto, who had a strong start, faded to 11th for Audi.

Paddock mourns Alex Zanardi

As day turned to night on Friday, news arrived that motorsport and Paralympic legend Alex Zanardi had died. The paddock came together on Saturday morning to remember him with a host of tributes and a minute of silence ahead of the Sprint. Zanardi, a former Formula One driver who later became a multiple Paralympic gold medalist in handcycling, was widely admired across the sport. The Miami Grand Prix, now in its fifth edition, is the first race of the 2026 season to be held in the United States. It also marks the first event since minor adjustments were made to the engine regulations, aimed at allowing more flat-out racing in qualifying and improving safety.

What lies ahead for Sunday's main race

The main grand prix, the fourth round of the championship, is scheduled for Sunday. Norris will start from pole position, with Antonelli and Piastri alongside him on the front row. Mercedes, who have never won in Miami, will be looking to rebound after a difficult Sprint. McLaren's upgraded car has clearly closed the gap to Mercedes, and Norris said the extra grip was a reward for the team's hard work. "It's the beginning of the weekend, so still a long way to go but nice to tick things off by doing this," he noted. With overtaking easier at this circuit than at most, Sunday's race promises further intrigue.

The bottom line

• Lando Norris won the Miami Sprint, leading a McLaren one-two and ending Mercedes' perfect start to 2026.
• McLaren's significant upgrades have made the car more competitive, with Norris praising the increased grip.
• Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli lost positions at the start and received a track-limits penalty, finishing sixth.
• Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton made contact during the race, but Verstappen recovered to fifth.
• Nico Hulkenberg's Audi caught fire before the start; Arvid Lindblad failed to start from the pit lane.
• The paddock paid tribute to Alex Zanardi, who died on Friday, with a minute of silence before the Sprint.
• Sunday's main race will see Norris on pole, with Mercedes seeking their first Miami Grand Prix win.