DPA
Miami
Champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull faced no difficulties as he kicked off the weekend at the Miami Formula One Grand Prix with a win in Saturday’s sprint race.
The Dutchman held on to his position at the start, while Charles Leclerc of Ferrari was pressured by Sergio Perez in the other Red Bull, but remained second.
Racing was cut short as the safety car was deployed before the end of the first lap after the McLaren of Lando Norris went off the track following contact in an incident involving the Aston Martin cars of Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso and the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton.
Once the safety car left the track, Verstappen had no issues in retaining his lead and eventually cruising to victory.
Daniel Ricciardo of Visa RB was a surprise fourth, followed by Carlos Sainz in the other Ferrari, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Nico Hülkenberg of Haas.
Hamilton took the final points place off Visa RB’s Yuki Tsunoda with a final-lap overtake.
Qualifying for Sunday’s grand prix is later on Saturday. Verstappen, who also won the first sprint of the year in China, tops the drivers’ standings ahead of team-mate Perez as he chases a fourth consecutive world title.
Sprint race results
1. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 31:31.383, 2. Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) at 3.371, 3. Sergio Perez (MEX/Red Bull) 5.095, 4. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Racing Bulls-Red Bull) 14.971, 5. Carlos Sainz (ESP/Ferrari) 15.222, 6. Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren-Mercedes) 15.750, 7. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Haas-Ferrari) 22.054, 8. Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/Racing Bulls-Red Bull) 29.816, 9. Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine-Renault) 31.880, 10. Logan Sargeant (USA/Williams-Mercedes) 34.355, 11. Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Sauber-Ferrari) 35.078, 12. George Russell (GBR/Mercedes) 35.755, 13. Alexander Albon (THA/Williams-Mercedes)36.086, 14. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Sauber-Ferrari) 36.892, 15. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine-Renault)37.740, 16. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 49.347, 17. Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 59.409, 18. Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas-Ferrari) 1:06.303
Did not finish: Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes), Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin-Mercedes)
