Norris storms to dominant Miami sprint win for McLaren
Norris storms to dominant Miami sprint win for McLaren
Lando Norris rockets to McLaren's first 2026 win with a pole-to-win sprint in Miami, buoyed by a major upgrade as rivals tighten up.
Lando Norris delivered a commanding performance at the Miami Grand Prix sprint, taking McLaren's first victory of the 2026 season from pole position. The win comes on the back of a major upgrade to the car introduced for this weekend, signaling a potential shift as McLaren reasserts itself in the title race.
The Briton controlled the opening laps, carefully managing his medium tyres and building a gap over Oscar Piastri, who remained close but couldn't threaten the lead in the closing laps. Leclerc pressed early on, but Norris edged away again in the final two laps to seal it.
Inside the field, Verstappen and Hamilton collided on the first lap at Turn Three as Verstappen barged past; Hamilton briefly reclaimed the lead when Verstappen's battery didn’t deploy out of the final corner on the opening lap. The pair ran closely until Verstappen finally moved ahead on lap seven, and he held the pace to challenge for the overall win. Antonelli endured a difficult day, making his fifth consecutive poor start and trading places with Russell at the first corner before fighting back to fourth—his late penalty trimming his championship lead over Russell. Gasly then took the final points position for Alpine, ensuring a busy, dramatic sprint for the Miami crowd.
The result reinforces McLaren's resurgence after the upgrade weekend and sets the stage for a tighter, more competitive season as Ferrari, Red Bull, and the rest of the field respond to the evolving regulations.
