Piastri leads McLaren one-two in Miami, Lawson forced to retire
Joanna Guelas, AAP • May 5th, 2025 9:30 am

Photo: AAP
F1 world championship leader Oscar Piastri has won the Miami Grand Prix, besting pole-sitter Max Verstappen to lead a McLaren one-two finish.
Australian Piastri claimed his third straight race win after starting fourth at Hard Rock Stadium on Monday (NZ time), joined on the podium by teammate Lando Norris and third-placed George Russell.
Four-time defending world champion Verstappen finished the 57-lap race in fourth.
Piastri now boasts a career-best four wins this season, after going back-to-back in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
Kiwi Liam Lawson had another day to forget, spinning out after contact with Jack Doohan off the starting grid. he was forced to retire due to the damage sustained in that collision after 38 laps.
With his sixth career win, the 24-year-old became the first McLaren driver to win three straight races since Mika Hakkinen's haul in 1997-98.
"Two years ago here in Miami, we were genuinely the slowest team. We got lapped twice," Piastri said.
"To now have won the Grand Prix by over 35 seconds to third is an unbelievable result.
"I won the race that I really wanted to."
Red Bull's Verstappen gave up his lead on lap 13 after braking too late at the first corner, losing more ground to Norris five laps later.
Verstappen could only lament his luck on the team radio: "F*** brakes, man. Honestly useless."
Mercedes driver Russell, after qualifying in fifth, jumped Verstappen on lap 30 after a strategic pit stop under the virtual safety car.
An engine issue suffered by Haas rookie Oliver Bearman had brought out the safety car.
McLaren ace Norris also pulled off an impressive drive to recover from sixth for a podium finish.
Norris, starting from the front row, had plummeted down the order on the first lap after Verstappen forced him wide at the second turn.
Red Bull heavyweight Verstappen had only just recovered from locking up his wheels at the previous turn.
Australian rookie Jack Doohan's race ended just seconds into the opening lap after a wheel puncture.
The under-pressure Alpine driver had collided with Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson at turn one.
Doohan, after finishing 16th in the sprint, had started in 14th after out-qualifying teammate Pierre Gasly for the first time.
Lawson also failed to finish the race, along with Kick Sauber driver Gabriel Bortoleto.
MIAMI GRAND PRIX RESULTS:
1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
2. Lando Norris (McLaren)
3. George Russell (Mercedes)
4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
5. Alex Albon (Williams)
6. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
7. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
8. Lewis Hamilton, (Ferrari)
9. Carlos Sainz (Williams)
10. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)