MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Oscar Piastri extended his championship lead to 16 points with victory ahead of teammate Lando Norris at the Miami Grand Prix.
No other driver, including reigning champion Max Verstappen who started from pole position, had the pace to match the two McLarens, with Piastri securing his fourth victory of the season by 4.6 seconds ahead of Norris.
Norris, who started from second position, attempted to pass Verstappen for the lead in the opening corner of the race, but found himself hung out to dry on the outside of Turn 2 and dropped to fifth as Piastri moved up to third position from fourth on the grid.
Piastri passed Andrea Kimi Antonelli for second place on Lap 4 while Norris recovered to third place by Lap 9.
Over the next nine laps, Verstappen provided a defensive masterclass, holding off Piastri until Lap 14 and Norris until Lap 18.
The superior pace of the McLarens was clear to see, but Verstappen positioned his Red Bull in all the right places to delay the inevitable.
Once the two McLarens were in clear air at the front of the pack, their one-two never looked in doubt, with Piastri managing the closing gap to his teammate.
Norris attempted to close in and chipped away at his teammate's lead over the second half of the race, but ultimately was unable to muster a genuine challenge.
The result means Piastri has extended his championship lead for the second race since taking the lead of the standings at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Piastri said in a post-race interview he knew to avoid Verstappen at Turn 1.
«I won the race that I really wanted to after a tricky day on Saturday.
»To come away with a win is an impressive result. I was aware enough to avoid Max in Turn 1 and I knew I had a pace advantage. I
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