MOTORSPORT: Norris breaks through in Miami

Lando Norris used a strategic break to his advantage in claiming his breakthrough Formula 1 victory at the Miami Grand Prix in the US this morning (Australian time).

The McLaren driver stayed out longer than the field during the opening stanza of the race before retaining the lead when the safety car was called mid-race then gapping the competition in the run home, claiming his first win after 110 starts.

For the second time in six races this season Max Verstappen was beaten to a GP win.

Still, his second-place result extended his championship lead, with the result coming in the week it was revealed that Red Bull design guru Adrian Newey would depart the squad at the start of next season .

Elsewhere, Daniel Ricciardo returned to form for RB, with a fourth-place finish in the preliminary F1 Sprint, scoring his first points for the season.

That race witnessed drama at the first corner – a squeeze between Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), the Aston Martins of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, and Norris resulted in significant contact between the latter pair, which saw them both sidelined.

The shuffle saw Ricciardo elevated to third, however, once the race restarted, he had to give way to Sergio Perez (Red Bull).

The most entertaining battle of the race, though, came from Kevin Magnussen (Haas) defending hard from Hamilton, with Yuki Tsunoda (RB) joining the party.

By the end of the race, Magnussen wore three separate 10sec penalties for his antics, while Hamilton was pinged for speeding in the pits.

Meanwhile, Ricciardo was forced to defend hard from Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), as Oscar Piastri (McLaren) closed in on the duo over the final laps.

At the chequered flag, Verstappen won from Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), Perez, Ricciardo, Sainz, Piastri, Audi-bound Nico Hulkenberg (Haas) and Tsunoda in eighth, rounding out the points finishers.

From his seventh straight pole position, Verstappen led the GP into the first corner, however, he was lucky not to be nailed by the errant Perez, while the Alpine pair of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly did everything but crash after a prolonged battle on the opening circuit.

Following the early exchanges, Leclerc settled into second from Piastri, Sainz and Perez, but on lap four of 57 Piastri pounced into second with a neat move.

Proving that he was pushing on, Verstappen took a shortcut through the chicane at the end of the back straight, knocking a bollard onto the circuit, which necessitated a virtual safety car that assisted several mid-pack runners who made pit stops.

When Verstappen stopped, Piastri found himself in the lead until lap 28 when he took service, before Logan Sargeant (Williams) and Magnussen tangled, forcing the safety car onto the circuit.

Leader elect Norris pitted and with the remainder of the pack trapped behind the safety car he re-emerged with a clear advantage.

From the lap 33 restart, Norris made a strong getaway, while at the same time Piastri battled hard to keep Sainz behind for fourth position.

The Aussie eventually dropped the place on lap 40, with subsequent front wing damage sending him to the pits.

Norris showed the field a clean pair of heels in the run home, heading Verstappen by 7.6sec at the chequered flag.

Leclerc was third from Sainz, Perez, Hamilton, Tsunoda, George Russell (Mercedes), Alonso and Ocon.

After starting last with thanks to a carryover penalty from China, Ricciardo was classified in 15th, two positions behind Piastri.

Following an off weekend, Formula 1 returns with the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola on May 19.

2024 Miami Grand Prix results:

2024 Formula 1 championship standings:

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