MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Oscar Piastri claimed victory in a thrilling Formula 1 race on Sunday, marked by intense wheel-to-wheel battles, and extended his championship lead over McLaren teammate Lando Norris, who finished second.
The Miami Grand Prix solidified its place on the Formula 1 calendar with a contract extension through 2041, a significant commitment reflecting the sport’s growing investment in the U.S. market.
The early stages of the race were pivotal for Piastri. Although he qualified fourth, two spots behind Norris, Piastri gained ground when Norris tangled with Red Bull’s pole-sitter Max Verstappen in the opening corners, causing Norris to lose positions. The incident dropped Norris to sixth, and he later accused Verstappen of forcing him off the track.
Verstappen, the reigning four-time world champion, fiercely defended against the charging McLarens of Piastri and Norris. However, he was unable to hold them off for long. The battle between Verstappen and Norris for second place stretched over several laps, with both drivers swapping positions before Norris ultimately prevailed. Meanwhile, Piastri built a crucial 9-second lead, a margin that proved vital in securing his victory.
Although Norris significantly reduced the gap in the final laps, he ran out of time and finished 4.6 seconds behind Piastri.
“It was good that I built that gap in the first stint,” Piastri said afterward, acknowledging he struggled during the later stages of the race.
With his win, Piastri now leads Norris by 16 points in the championship standings, having triumphed in four of the season’s first six races.
Mercedes’ George Russell rounded out the podium in third place, while Verstappen finished fourth after losing positions to Russell during pit stops.
The race also saw drama between Ferrari teammates Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, with Hamilton accusing Ferrari of poor teamwork over the radio after getting stuck behind Leclerc despite being on faster tires. Leclerc finished seventh, with Hamilton following closely in eighth.
F1 to Race in Miami Until 2041
The Miami Grand Prix, which made its debut in 2022, has secured the longest contract on the Formula 1 calendar, with the race now set to run through at least 2041, according to the event’s promoters.
F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali hailed Miami as “one of the most important and spectacular events on our calendar,” underscoring the significance of the agreement.
“Extending this agreement until 2041 is a strategic milestone of enormous importance, strengthening our presence in America and solidifying our ever-growing and passionate fan base there,” Domenicali said in a statement. “The bond with our U.S. fans has never been deeper.”
The Miami paddock and the weekend’s star-studded party scene were alive with a slew of high-profile figures, including former NFL players Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski, Olympic medalist Lindsey Vonn, comedian Andrew Schulz, singer Jelly Roll, and Thai singer and actor Lisa, who recently appeared in The White Lotus.
While former President Donald Trump did not make an appearance as he did the previous year, his national intelligence director, Tulsi Gabbard, was spotted at the event and was photographed conversing with Max Verstappen after Saturday’s qualifying session.
Weekend Highlights: Sprint Race Chaos, Cadillac F1 Launch, and Movie Preview
The weekend kicked off with a shortened “sprint” race on Saturday, which descended into chaos due to rain, but McLaren’s Lando Norris emerged victorious. Among the standout performances was 18-year-old Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, who made history as the youngest-ever pole-sitter in the Saturday sprint race. Antonelli finished in sixth place on Sunday, just behind Williams’ Alex Albon, who impressed with a solid fifth-place finish.
Cadillac F1 Team Unveils at Miami Launch
On the eve of the race, the Cadillac F1 team unveiled its logo at a glamorous red-carpet launch party in Miami Beach, officially announcing its plan to join the grid next year.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem praised Cadillac’s entry, saying, “This decision was made with the fans in mind and continues to push the boundaries of motorsport to the highest level. Cadillac’s entry represents a powerful fusion of American engineering excellence, heritage, and innovation, and I look forward to welcoming them.”
The launch event saw the attendance of Mario Andretti, the 1978 F1 World Champion, who is advising the team on driver selection and other key aspects. Andretti shared his excitement with NBC News, saying, “Seeing the Cadillac Formula 1 team come to life was an adrenaline rush, coming from my passion and love for it. It was a celebration of teamwork, dedication, and resilience. A night to acknowledge the effort and perseverance of so many people. I’m proud to be on this team with them.”
Jerry Bruckheimer Previews Upcoming F1 Movie
The paddock also featured a special garage experience promoting the upcoming “F1” movie starring Brad Pitt, set to be released in the U.S. on June 27. The immersive experience, produced by Sturdy.co, gave VIPs and attendees a chance to preview the movie’s soundtrack and experience F1 race simulators designed to resemble the fictional APXGP team that Pitt’s character races for.
Producer Jerry Bruckheimer spoke about the film’s authenticity, saying, “It’s romantic, it’s exciting, and it’s the most authentic racing movie ever made because of the technology we were able to use. The story is emotional. It’s a comeback story—the kind of stuff that inspired me to go see movies and make movies.”
Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, a retired F1 driver who makes an unexpected return to the sport after a career-ending crash. Bruckheimer revealed that Pitt trained for three months to learn how to drive an F1 car, saying, “He did all his own driving. He loves driving cars, and I think the saddest day for Brad was when he had to step out of the car and we wrapped the movie. I was more relieved than anybody that everything was safe.”
