04/05/2025
NEWS STORY
There is no doubt that all eyes are going to be on the first corner this afternoon.
Following Max Verstappen's silliness in Jeddah, we saw something very much similar in yesterday's Sprint.
While Oscar Piastri starts from the second row, he is alongside Kimi Antonelli, and the Italian was in no doubt following yesterday's 'incident' that he has learned from the experience.
Meanwhile, up front, Verstappen and Lando Norris already have history.
As if that wasn't enough, and while reflecting on yesterday, the second F1 Academy race has been cancelled due to "heavy rain" meaning that we look likely to experience some further mayhem over the next couple of hours.
Indeed, such are the conditions the FIA has issued a special procedure for grid/race suspension due to lighting strikes.
Based on his qualifying performance if it was dry our money would have been on Verstappen to do the business and in all honesty we see little reason to change our minds should the rain continue.
Much as we hate all the speculating, fact is the Dutchman should surely be on every team's wish list, while Red Bull appears to be going out of its way to lose him.
While the rain stops almost as abruptly as it appeared. It is widely predicted that it will return over the course of the afternoon.
Instead of the usual drivers parade, all twenty headed out in 2-seaters constructed from Lego bricks... no, is neither, but then again in view of the sport's obsession with monetisation and brands let's be grateful it wasn't a pasta eating competition.
This weekend has seen the true emergence of Antonelli who is clearly not only highly talented but appears to have both feet planted firmly on the ground, his father clearly playing a major role. However, looking at the media's obsession with exploitation - yes, we mean you Sky - can we please leave the kid alone, to find his own way. This sport is difficult enough as it is without the added pressure of constantly demanding that first podium, that first win, that first title.
Credit also to Bortoleto whose performance in the Sprint and qualifying pretty much went under the radar.
Gasly is to start from the pitlane after his car was modified under parc ferme conditions.
The Sprint was also entertaining, mainly due to the weather. The heavy rain that fell before the start meant that the Inters were the only choice. Once a dry racing line began to appear, these started to wear, especially the front right and consequently the lap times got significantly slower. The switch to slicks immediately proved to be the way to go, to the extent that eventually the entire field pitted for drys, including those at the front who had built up a good margin over their pursuers.
This could be a factor to consider today if it does rain again. In that situation, drivers will have to be very careful in managing the Inter. If the race is run in the dry, the small amount of data gathered on Friday and during qualifying, with just one free practice session and the Sprint run almost entirely in the wet, will only serve to consolidate the strategy forecasts from before the weekend. Despite the move to a trio of compounds one step softer than in 2024, the one stop is on paper, the quickest, with medium and hard as the obvious choices. Nine of the ten teams - RB being the exception - have kept two sets of C3 per driver, not necessarily with the intention of using both in the race, but to have a back-up in case of safety cars or red flags, something which is far from unlikely at this track.
The pitlane opens and the drivers begin to make their way out.
Ahead of the formation lap the air temperature is 27 degrees C, while the track temperature is 40 degrees. It is cloudy and muggy, with a 30% chance of rain.
Unfortunately we are not getting the tyre info.
Verstappen leads the field away on the formation lap. Most appear to be on mediums, though Russell is on hards, as are Hamilton, Lawson, Hulkenberg, Alonso, Bearman and Gasly.
The grid forms.
They're away! Verstappen and Norris both get away well, the Dutchman leads into Turn 1 but there's a puff of smoke as he locks-up. As he recovers Norris is alongside with Piastri on the inside of the Briton. However as they round Turn 2, Verstappen and Norris are side-by-side again as Piastri falls in behind and covers off Antonelli.
Verstappen hits the kerb on the inside of Turn 3 as Norris misses the corner completely and loses a number of positions as he rejoins. Indeed, the Briton slips to sixth.
"He pushed me off track," complains the McLaren driver. "What am I meant to do, just drive into the wall or something, I was completely alongside."
Further back, Doohan complains he has a puncture following contact with Lawson.
"I got completely hit mate," says Lawson, "I've no idea what the Alpine was doing."
Replay shows Doohan hitting the side of the RB as Lawson tried to cut across the front of him in Turn 1.
At the end of Lap 1, it's: Verstappen, Antonelli, Piastri, Russell, Albon, Norris, Sainz, Leclerc, Tsunoda and Ocon. Hamilton is twelfth.
The VSC is deployed as Doohan has stopped at Turn 12.
The VSC is withdrawn at the end of Lap 3, in no time at all Verstappen is 1.1s clear, while Piastri takes Antonelli by surprise and Norris passes Albon.
Hamilton having a nice scrap with Hadjar until the RB driver out-brakes himself.
Sainz passes his teammate, Albon losing two places in one lap.
"Possible rain in 20 laps, it will be heavy if it hits," Alonso is warned.
Verstappen have noted the Verstappen/Norris incident and that involving Doohan and Lawson.
The stewards subsequently announce that neither incident warrants further investigation.
Norris leaves Russell for dead to claim fourth, the Mercedes driver clearly struggling on his hards.
"Rain expected Lap 14," Piastri is warned. He is told that it will be heavy.
It is now Lap 8 and Norris has just passed Antonelli for third, while a spin has dropped Alonso to 18th.
Piastri is all over the back of the Red Bull.
At the start of Lap 11 Piastri is almost alongside Verstappen on the pit straight, but the Dutchman holds him off.
Sainz reports that Russell is moving under braking.
Verstappen is placing his car exactly where he needs to. "Stay on the inside, make him work for it," he is told.
In his pursuit of Verstappen, Piastri posts a new fastest lap (31.700).
"It's super slippery to drive," reports Verstappen.
Again they're side by side on the pit straight at the start of Lap 14, but Verstappen goes in to Turn 1 too deep and Piastri is through.
"******* brakes, man, useless," says the Dutchman as Norris closes in.
Norris attempts a repeat of his teammate's move, but somehow the Dutchman holds on.
"He was not ahead," says Verstappen. "All good," he is told.
Piastri is already 3.2s clear.
"Everything is everywhere, all over the shop," complains Verstappen as Piastri posts a new fastest lap (31.687).
Both drivers appear to run wide in Turn 11 on Lap 17 but Norris is through. A few corners later however, Verstappen retakes the position.
Was Norris told to hand the position back?
Next time around Norris makes no mistake and sweeps by the Red Bull.
In his battle with his teammate, Sainz has been noted for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.
Lap 19 sees another fastest lap from Piastri (31.662).
Bortoleto is the first to pit, the Brazilian rejoining in 18th. Next time around Stroll stops.
Hamilton is hard on the heels of Ocon as they battle for 10th.
Wow, Hamilton and Ocon are wheel to wheel and eventually the Briton is through.
Hadjar pits at the end of Lap 22.
No sooner has Norris posted a new fastest lap (31.478) than Piastri responds with 31.465.
Though 8.7s down on his teammate, Norris is already 6.8s clear of Verstappen.
Lap 25 and we finally have the tyre info. The leading four are on mediums, Russell (fifth) being the leading driver on hards.
"Possible light rain for the next two laps," Piastri is warned, "mainly in Turn 17."
Antonelli and Sainz both pit at the end of Lap. The Italian rejoins in 9th, having been held back, and the Spaniard 11th.
Verstappen and Albon both pit next time around, the Dutchman rejoining in 7th, as Albon is passed by Antonelli as he leaves the pitlane.
Verstappen makes short work of Hamilton, who has yet to stop.
Antonelli posts a new fastest lap (30.795).
Bearman goes off track and as he rejoins it is clear he has a problem. Indeed he stops at Turn 8.
"Oh my God," says the Haas driver, "I lost everything."
The VSC is deployed and Hamilton is first to pit. Alonso follows suit.
McLaren goes for the double-stack. Russell also pits, as does Leclerc.
Russell rejoins just as the VSC is withdrawn, emerging ahead of Verstappen on mediums.
"My engine is... I cannot drive like this," reports Bortoleto.
Albon passes Antonelli, the Mercedes driver running wide in the process, while Sainz passes Leclerc for seventh.
Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (30.170).
Tsunoda is given a 5s penalty for speeding in the pitlane.
The VSC is deployed again when Bortoleto stops on the back straight.
"Check if George lifted, it was a yellow," says Verstappen.
As the VSC is withdrawn, Sainz has both Ferraris behind him. Leclerc makes short work of his former teammate. Though the Spaniard fights back, he not only loses out to the Monegasque but a wily Hamilton. Indeed, the seven-time world champion almost passed Leclerc also.
After 36 laps, Piastri is 7.2s clear of his teammate, with Russell a further 19.2s down the road.
"I'm just burning up my tyres behind him," complains a medium-shod Hamilton of his hard-shod teammate.
"You want me to sit here the whole race," asks Hamilton.
On Lap 37, Hulkenberg is the last driver to pit.
"Want to keep the DRS to Charles, go ahead like this," Hamilton is told. "Man, you guys," he replies, when told "We'll get back to you."
"This is not good teamwork," adds the seven-time champ. At which point Leclerc yields.
The Briton is soon 1.5s clear of his teammate and hunting down Antonelli who is 5s up the road.
Replay has Hamilton telling his team to "have a tea break while you're at it," while it makes a decision.
"I need Lewis to go faster, I've just got dirty air now," says Leclerc.
Sainz and Gasly are both noted for yellow flag infringements. It is subsequently announced that these will be investigated after the race.
On Lap 46, Piastri laps 16th (last) placed Stroll. Norris is 4.8s behind.
"I'm overheating my tyres," warns Leclerc as he closes on his teammate.
After 50 laps, it's: Piastri, Norris (+ 4.1s), Russell (+ 30.8s), Verstappen (+ 1.6s), Albon (+ 9.3s), Antonelli (+ 5.2s), Hamilton (+ 2.8s), Leclerc (+ 0.7s), Sainz (+ 1.7s) and Tsunoda (+ 6.3s), though the Japanese has that 5s time penalty.
"Are we coming back on Antonelli," asks Leclerc. "We are, but slowly," he is told.
"Swap the positions," Hamilton is told. 2.3s down on Antonelli, the Briton will not be best pleased.
Hamilton yields, Ferrari seemingly having told Leclerc about the plan before informing the Briton.
"Well discuss after the race," says Leclerc.
Told Sainz is 1.4s behind, Hamilton replies: "You want me to let him past as well?" Ouch!
"Make sure you're within 5s," Verstappen," is told. "Why is that," he asks. "Just keep up the pace," he is told.
On his final lap, Piastri laps Hulkenberg. The Australian takes the flag, his third successive win.
Sainz makes a cheeky, late attack on Hamilton but the Briton holds him off, while Tsunoda finishes 0.168s ahead of Hadjar (time penalty included) to hold on to tenth.
"He moved a bit under braking," claim Sainz though the replay suggests he almost T-boned the Ferrari.
The incident will be investigated.
"Really happy to come away with P3 as I have been struggling this weekend personally," says Russell. "Well done to the McLaren, they were just too far down the road.
"Lando is upset with me as we had a crash in the Lego race and I hurt his leg," he laughs.
"It's never the best feeling," says Norris in response to finishing second, "but the team has done an amazing job, so I can't fault them at all.
"We were up the road so it is a good feeling," he adds. "Oscar drove well, Max put up a good fight as always so it is what it is.
"I paid the price for not doing a good enough job today, but still happy to be second."
"I won the race that I really wanted to," says Piastri, "yesterday was tricky, qualifying was one of my trickiest sessions of the year so to come away with the win is an amazing result.
"I was aware enough to avoid Max in Turn 1, and from then I knew I had a good pace advantage. The car was incredible today.
"The hard stint I was struggling a little bit, so there are some things to work on. I've got to keep learning, but very happy to be leaving Miami on top."
Not a classic, fat from it, and what we really needed was that rain.
However, if there is anything to take away from Miami it is the clear superiority of the McLaren, particularly in Piastri's hands.
On the other hand, Ferrari clearly has an issue and today's interaction is a clear sign that Hamilton is an unhappy bunny.
Thankfully, next up is a proper circuit, where we should get some proper racing as opposed to continuous teasers.
Here's hoping.