F1 MIAMI GRAND PRIX LIVE: SPRINT RACE RESULTS AND QUALIFYING UPDATES

F1 MIAMI GRAND PRIX - LATEST UPDATES

• Max Verstappen wins the sprint race; Leclerc 2nd; Perez 3rd
• CRASH! McLaren’s Lando Norris out of the sprint race after collision with Lance Stroll (Lap 1/19)
• The sprint race in Miami started at 5pm (BST); qualifying is at 9pm
• EXPLAINER: How does a sprint weekend work?
• MIAMI GP PREVIEW: Red Bull face battle to stop Jos Verstappen’s ‘explosion’ prediction coming true

BREAKING: Lewis Hamilton will not finish in the points!

Hamilton has been given a drive-through penalty for speeding in the pit lane - and 20 seconds has been added to his final classification!

It means Yuki Tsunoda takes the final point - what a sprint for RB!

TOP-8 IN THE MIAMI SPRINT RACE:

1. Max Verstappen

2. Charles Leclerc

3. Sergio Perez

4. Daniel Ricciardo

5. Carlos Sainz

6. Oscar Piastri

7. Nico Hulkenberg

8. Yuki Tsunoda

F1 Miami Grand Prix: Max Verstappen wins the sprint in Miami!

Another perfect race from Max Verstappen - he wins from Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez!

Daniel Ricciardo keeps fourth place for five brilliant points for RB, with Carlos Sainz in fifth.

And Lewis Hamilton passed Yuki Tsunoda on the final lap to take the final point!

F1 Miami Grand Prix: Final lap! (Lap 19/19)

Can Daniel Ricciardo keep fourth place from Carlos Sainz?! Ferrari is right on the rear of the RB!

Top-8: Verstappen, Leclerc, Perez, Ricciardo, Sainz, Piastr, Hulkenberg, Tsunoda

F1 Miami Grand Prix: Kevin Magnussen receives another 10-second penalty (Lap 17/19)

His second of the race! 20 secs now... he’ll be dropping way down the order.

Top-8: Verstappen, Leclerc, Perez, Ricciardo, Sainz, Piastri, Gulkenberg, Tsunoda

Hamilton just out the points right now! Three laps to go...

F1 Miami Grand Prix: Hamilton loses a place to Tsunoda!

Mad racing from Magnussen!

He defends again from Hamilton and goes off the track, forcing Lewis off too! And who comes steaming around the outside of the Mercedes? Yuki Tsunoda.

“He pushed me off track” - Hamilton.

Quite the sprint this from Kevin Magnussen - who has now dropped off behind Hamilton!

F1 Miami Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton under investigation for speeding in the pit lane! (Lap 14/19)

The pack went through the pits during the safety car period - was Hamilton over the limit?

Either way, the Mercedes still can’t get past Magnussen.

Top-8: Verstappen, Leclerc, Perez, Ricciardo, Sainz, Piastri, Hulkenberg, Magnussen (+10 secs)

F1 Miami Grand Prix: Hamilton and Magnussen touch (Lap 11/19)

It’s only a sprint lads!

Magnussen refuses to yield to the old switch - but Magnussen has been given a 10-second time penalty for leaving the track earlier in defence!

So Hamilton will be ahead anyway by the end!

Meanwhile, Daniel Ricciardo is doing a terrific job to defend from Carlos Sainz as he eyes his first points of the season in fourth place!

At the front, Max Verstappen’s lead: 2.2 secs to Leclerc.

F1 Miami Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton right on tail of Kevin Magnussen (Lap 9/19)

The Mercedes is right on the rear of the Haas - but can’t get ahead around the tight corners of sector one!

Out in front, Max Verstappen is 1.7 seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc.

3-10: Perez, Ricciardo, Sainz, Piastri, Hulkenberg, Magnussen

F1 Miami Grand Prix: Sergio Perez passes Daniel Ricciardo (Lap 5/19)

That didn’t last long for the RB driver!

Perez has superior speed and passes the Australian in sector two...

Up to third!

Verstappen got off the line well from the restart and is comfortably ahead of Charles Leclerc.

Top-10: Verstappepn, Leclerc, Perez, Ricciardo, Sainz, Piastri, Hulkenberg, Magnussen

Lewis Hamilton P9; George Russell down to 14!

F1 Miami Grand Prix: No further action for Lewis Hamilton

I’d say Lewis is a tad lucky there - think he was a little bit out of control.

Safety car is ending at the end of lap 3...

F1 Miami Grand Prix: The Aston Martins came together!

Stroll and Alonso came together and while Lewis Hamilton stormed down the inside (perhaps too agressively as he clattered into Alonso!) Norris got clattered around the outside!

Stroll is out, as is Norris! Alonso has continued I believe.....

Top-10 under safety car, lap 3/19: Verstappen, Leclerc, Ricciardo, Perez, Sainz, Piastri, Hulkenberg, Magnussen, Hamilton, Tsunoda

F1 Miami Grand Prix: Lando Norris out at turn one!

Lights out and Max Verstappen holds position at turn one, while Daniel Ricciardo got a jump on Sergio Perez after turn one - he’s up to third!

Lando Norris is out though, he got hit! Fernando Alonso has a puncture too!

SAFETY CAR!

Formation lap!

Verstapppen starts the 19-lap race in front and takes the pack away for the formation lap!

Can Charles Leclerc, perhaps, get a jump on the Red Bull at turn one?!

We’re about to find out!

BREAKING: Esteban Ocon has a 10-second time penalty

And he hasn’t even started the race!

That’s because of that unsafe release a short time ago...

Starting grid for Miami GP sprint race:

1) Max Verstappen

2) Charles Leclerc

3) Sergio Perez

4) Daniel Ricciardo

5) Carlos Sainz

6) Oscar Piastri

7) Lance Stroll

8) Fernando Alonso

9) Lando Norris

10) Nico Hulkenberg

11) George Russell

12) Lewis Hamilton

13) Esteban Ocon

14) Kevin Magnussen

15) Yuki Tsunoda

16) Pierre Gasly

17) Zhou Guanyu

18) Logan Sargeant

19) Alex Albon

20) Valtteri Bottas*

*Bottas drops from 18th to 20th after receiving a three-place grid drop for impeding Oscar Piastri in qualifying

George Russell is confident of moving into the points-scoring top-eight

F1 Miami Grand Prix: Sprint race!

We’re just five minutes away from the second sprint race of the season!

Max Verstappen starts on pole for the 19-lap race with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc alongside him on the front row. Sergio Perez is third with Daniel RIcciardo - who wants Perez’s seat at Red Bull next year - a surprise name alongside him in fourth!

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell start down the order, in 12th and 11th - how much ground can they make up?

Esteban Ocon could get a penalty here

Prior to the reconassiance laps, Esteban Ocon nearly drove right into Charles Leclerc as he left the garage?

Unsafe release? I think so.

MIAMI GP PREVIEW: Red Bull face battle to stop Jos Verstappen’s ‘explosion’ prediction coming true

“The team is in danger of being torn apart, it can’t go on the way it is – it will explode.” Those were the words of Max Verstappen’s father, Jos, amid the height of the Formula One soap-opera storm two months ago in Bahrain surrounding Christian Horner and the investigation into his conduct towards a female colleague.

Verstappen Sr is not one to shirk his words. Let’s be clear: whatever the reasons, he wanted Horner out. And though the dominance of his son on the track may seem never-ending, there may now be a conclusion of sorts in sight for this Red Bull juggernaut.

Full piece below:

Red Bull face battle to stop Jos Verstappen’s ‘explosion’ prediction coming true

Starting grid for Miami GP sprint race:

1) Max Verstappen

2) Charles Leclerc

3) Sergio Perez

4) Daniel Ricciardo

5) Carlos Sainz

6) Oscar Piastri

7) Lance Stroll

8) Fernando Alonso

9) Lando Norris

10) Nico Hulkenberg

11) George Russell

12) Lewis Hamilton

13) Esteban Ocon

14) Kevin Magnussen

15) Yuki Tsunoda

16) Pierre Gasly

17) Zhou Guanyu

18) Logan Sargeant

19) Alex Albon

20) Valtteri Bottas*

*Bottas drops from 18th to 20th after receiving a three-place grid drop for impeding Oscar Piastri in qualifying

Martin Brundle on Mercedes’ issues:

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell start 12th and 11th respectively this afternoon:

Miami GP sprint race odds!

Fancy a flutter?

• Max Verstappen - 1/7
• Charles Leclerc - 11/1
• Sergio Perez - 11/1
• Carlos Sainz - 25/1
• Lando Norris - 33/1
• Oscar Piastri - 33/1
• Fernando Alonso - 66/1
• Lance Stroll - 66/1

In a sign of how bad Lewis Hamilton and George Russell qualified, they’re not even in the top-eight!

Odds provided by Betway

Max Verstappen’s reaction to Adrian Newey’s departure:

“I would have preferred, of course, for Adrian to stay.

“But at the end of the day, and that’s what I also said to Adrian, you have to do what you think is best for yourself, because at the end of the day, F1 is a bit of a shark tank.

“And I think it’s very important that you do think about yourself, that you make the right decisions for yourself and your family.

“So I also don’t blame him. If someone wants to leave, you go and pursue other goals or things in life, so that’s absolutely fine.”

A reminder of the timings this weekend:

(All times BST)

Saturday 4 May

• Sprint race: 5pm
• Qualifying: 9pm

Sunday 5 May

• Race: 9pm

F1 Miami GP sprint qualifying report:

Lewis Hamilton’s troubled season continued in Miami after he qualified only 12th for Saturday’s sprint race at the Hard Rock Stadium.

As Max Verstappen put his Red Bull on pole position, Hamilton, who has so far failed to finish in the top six this season, grazed the wall as he was eliminated in Q2.

Hamilton’s team-mate George Russell also failed to make it into the final phase, taking 11th place, on another disappointing afternoon for Mercedes in the Sunshine State.

Full report below:

Lewis Hamilton’s troubles continue with woeful sprint qualifying showing in Miami

Could Kimi Antonelli replace Logan Sargeant at Williams?

The FIA has received a request to grant Andrea Kimi Antonelli a Super Licence under special dispensation - he does not turn 18 until August 25.

FIA is looking into it - it requires multiple parties and commissions in voting process due to the regulations.

Christian Horner reacts to prospect of Adrian Newey joining Ferrari

Christian Horner believes Adrian Newey will “take some time” to decide his future – but refused to rule out the prospect that Red Bull’s design guru could join Ferrari next year.

Red Bull confirmed the departure of their chief technical officer Newey, the man praised with this current era of car which is dominating Formula 1 currently, earlier this week after 18 years.

Newey had a contract until the end of 2025 – signed last May – but is said to be unhappy with the current power struggle within the team, focused on team principal Horner and long-term adviser Helmut Marko, in the wake of the scandal engulfing F1 boss Horner and his conduct towards a female colleague.

Now, Newey is set to leave early next year, with Ferrari the most likely destination for his services where he would potentially form a partnership with Lewis Hamilton in Italy in 2025. Aston Martin have also made a big-money offer.

Full quotes below:

Christian Horner reacts to prospect of Adrian Newey joining Ferrari

Here are the constructors’ standings ahead of Miami this weekend:

1. Red Bull - 195 points

2. Ferrari - 151 points

3. McLaren - 96 points

4. Mercedes - 52 points

5. Aston Martin - 40 points

6. RB - 7 points

7. Haas - 5 points

8. Williams - 0 points

9. Alpine - 0 points

10. Sauber - 0 points

MIAMI GP PREVIEW: Red Bull face battle to stop Jos Verstappen’s ‘explosion’ prediction coming true

“The team is in danger of being torn apart, it can’t go on the way it is – it will explode.” Those were the words of Max Verstappen’s father, Jos, amid the height of the Formula One soap-opera storm two months ago in Bahrain surrounding Christian Horner and the investigation into his conduct towards a female colleague.

Verstappen Sr is not one to shirk his words. Let’s be clear: whatever the reasons, he wanted Horner out. And though the dominance of his son on the track may seem never-ending, there may now be a conclusion of sorts in sight for this Red Bull juggernaut.

Full piece below:

Red Bull face battle to stop Jos Verstappen’s ‘explosion’ prediction coming true

Lando Norris explains Amsterdam party injury before Miami Grand Prix

Lando Norris has explained his injury, sustained in the week’s break in the demanding Formula One schedule ahead of the Miami Grand Prix.

Norris injured his face while spending some time in Amsterdam, and pictures spread of the British driver with a bandage wrapped across his face after an incident during the Koningsdag (King’s Day) celebrations alongside DJ Martin Garrix.

Full piece below:

Lando Norris explains Amsterdam party injury before Miami Grand Prix

Here are the driver standings ahead of Miami this weekend:

1. Max Verstappen - 110 points

2. Sergio Perez - 85 points

3. Charles Leclerc - 76 points

4. Carlos Sainz - 69 points

5. Lando Norris - 58 points

6. Oscar Piastri - 38 points

7. George Russell - 33 points

8. Fernando Alonso - 31 points

9. Lewis Hamilton - 19 points

10. Lance Stroll - 9 points

11. Yuki Tsunoda - 7 points

12. Oliver Bearman - 6 points

13. Nico Hulkenberg - 4 points

14. Kevin Magnussen - 1 point

15. Alex Albon - 0 points

16. Esteban Ocon - 0 points

17. Zhou Guanyu - 0 points

18. Daniel Ricciardo - 0 points

19. Pierre Gasly - 0 points

20. Valtteri Bottas - 0 points

21. Logan Sargeant - 0 points

Ed Sheeran meets Ted Kravitz:

This was golden just before yesterday’s qualifying session... Ipswich are playing right now!

EXPLAINER: What is a sprint race in F1 and how does qualifying shootout work?

The sprint format continues in Formula 1 this weekend as the Miami Grand Prix hosts the second sprint weekend of the 2024 season.

The sprint was first introduced in 2021 at Silverstone as a way of making more sessions over the course of the weekend competitive, with the target of driving interest in F1. In 2021 and 2022, there were three sprints a year.

2023 saw a new format. The number of sprint races were doubled to six, while Saturday was designed ‘sprint day’ - with a new “sprint shootout” qualifying session determining the grid for the sprint race. In addition, the result of the sprint race had no baring on the grand prix on Sunday.

However, the format has been tweaked again in 2024 and we will see it in action for the second time this weekend at the Miami International Autodrome.

What is a sprint race in F1 and how does qualifying work?

A reminder of the timings this weekend:

(All times BST)

Saturday 4 May

• Sprint race: 5pm
• Qualifying: 9pm

Sunday 5 May

• Race: 9pm

F1 Miami Grand Prix: Sprint race!

Formula 1 returns to the United States this weekend as the street circuit around the Hard Rock Stadium hosts the Miami Grand Prix for the third time - and the second of six sprint weekends in 2024.

Max Verstappen was in dominant form last time out in China, winning both the sprint race and grand prix in Shanghai, and leads the world championship despite the current unrest at Red Bull which has led to Adrian Newey’s shock departure from the team this week, with Ferrari favourites to sign the star designer.

Sergio Perez is 25 points behind his team-mate in the standings, with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz next-best on the list. Lando Norris finished second in Shanghai as he continues to target a first win in F1, while Lewis Hamilton will be striving for more following his worst ever start to a season.

Miami was selected as one of six venues to host a sprint weekend by F1 this year. Verstappen has won the first two editions of the race, which first appeared on the calendar in 2022, and put his Red Bull on pole for the sprint race on Saturday.

F1 Miami GP sprint qualifying report:

Lewis Hamilton’s troubled season continued in Miami after he qualified only 12th for Saturday’s sprint race at the Hard Rock Stadium.

As Max Verstappen put his Red Bull on pole position, Hamilton, who has so far failed to finish in the top six this season, grazed the wall as he was eliminated in Q2.

Hamilton’s team-mate George Russell also failed to make it into the final phase, taking 11th place, on another disappointing afternoon for Mercedes in the Sunshine State.

Full report below:

Lewis Hamilton’s troubles continue with woeful sprint qualifying showing in Miami

What is the starting grid for the Miami GP sprint race?

1) Max Verstappen

2) Charles Leclerc

3) Sergio Perez

4) Daniel Ricciardo

5) Carlos Sainz

6) Oscar Piastri

7) Lance Stroll

8) Fernando Alonso

9) Lando Norris

10) Nico Hulkenberg

11) George Russell

12) Lewis Hamilton

13) Esteban Ocon

14) Kevin Magnussen

15) Yuki Tsunoda

16) Pierre Gasly

17) Zhou Guanyu

18) Valtteri Bottas

19) Logan Sargeant

20) Alex Albon

Ed Sheeran meets Ted Kravitz:

This was golden just before that qualifying session...

Max Verstappen:

“To be honest with you it felt pretty terrible. Maybe that last session was very difficult to get the tyres to work. I didn’t really improve on the soft but somehow we’re first. We take it. Practice I was really confident, qualifying not so much.

“In qualifying, it didn’t look like that for me. I don’t know what happened to the other cars in that last lap.”

F1 Miami Grand Prix: Max Verstappen on pole for the sprint!

Max Verstappen takes it... just!

A tenth ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in second, with Sergio Perez in third! Verstappen made an error in sector two too!

And what a lap from Daniel Ricciardo - in P4!

4-10: Ricciardo, Sainz, Piastri, Stroll, Alonso, Norris, Hulkenberg

Verstappen: “LOL! What happened to the others, that was terrible. I mean, I’ll take it!”

F1 Miami Grand Prix: Four minutes left....

No cars out on track until four minutes left!

They clearly feel they can only do one lap on these soft tyres!

One-lap shootout - here we go then!

F1 Miami Grand Prix: SQ3 underway!

Here come the soft tyres!

Eight minutes only - who will be on pole for the sprint race tomorrow?

10 drivers involved: Norris, Perez, Leclerc, Verstappen, Ricciardo, Piastri, Alonso, Sainz, Stroll, Hulkenberg

F1 Miami Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton is out in SQ2!

Lewis Hamilton hasn’t made it - and neither has his team-mate George Russell!

A shocker for Mercedes!

Bottom-five (11-15) and out in SQ2: Russell, Hamilton, Ocon, Magnussen, Tsunoda

Hamilton: “I’ve got nothing man...”

Top-3: Norris, Perez, Leclerc

F1 Miami Grand Prix: Lando Norris fastest

Norris No 1, Perez No 2, Leclerc No 3:

Current bottom-five (11-15): Hamilton, Ocon, Magnussen, Verstappen (no time), Tsunoda (no time)

Verstappen will only have time for one lap around the Miami circuit!

George Russell a nervous man in P10 too... 2 minutes left...

F1 Miami Grand Prix: SQ2 underway!

10 minutes now for this quickfire second session, with the 15 remaining drivers again on medium tyres...

Cue a queue in the pit lane!

F1 Miami Grand Prix: Valtteri Bottas may be in trouble too

Bottas almost collided with Piastri at turn one - Piastri was on a hot lap and Bottas just had no idea he was there!

Think that’ll be a penalty. Anyhow, to be investigated after the session..

F1 Miami Grand Prix: Alex Albon out in SQ1!

Albon went quicker... but only for P16! And anyway, then his lap time is deleted!

Pierre Gasly also doesn’t make it!

Bottom-five (16-20) and out in SQ1: Gasly, Zhou, Bottas, Sargeant, Albon

Nico Hulkenberg sneaks through in P15!

Top-3: Norris, Piastri, Alonso

F1 Miami Grand Prix: Alex Albon will have to get a wriggle on

Albon currently P20 - four-tenths behind Esteban Ocon in 15th.

Current bottom-five (16-20): Ricciardo, Bottas, Sargeant, Hulkenberg, Albon

Top-3: Norris, Verstappen, Piastri

Mercedes down in ninth and 10th with Russell and Hamilton. 2:00 to go...

F1 Miami Grand Prix: Max Verstappen up top

Red Bull lead the way with Verstappen halfway through the session, with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri second and Sergio Perez third.

Current bottom-five (16-20): Bottas, Sargeant, Sainz, Hulkenberg, Albon

Not too sure what’s gone on with Sainz down there in P18! 6:00 to go though...

F1 Miami Grand Prix: SQ1 underway

Charles Leclerc - after missing most of practice - is the first car out on track for Ferrari.

Just 12 minutes then for this first sprint qualifying session - it’ll be quickfire!

EXPLAINER: What is a sprint race in F1 and how does qualifying shootout work?

The sprint format continues in Formula 1 this weekend as the Miami Grand Prix hosts the second sprint weekend of the 2024 season.

The sprint was first introduced in 2021 at Silverstone as a way of making more sessions over the course of the weekend competitive, with the target of driving interest in F1. In 2021 and 2022, there were three sprints a year.

2023 saw a new format. The number of sprint races were doubled to six, while Saturday was designed ‘sprint day’ - with a new “sprint shootout” qualifying session determining the grid for the sprint race. In addition, the result of the sprint race had no baring on the grand prix on Sunday.

However, the format has been tweaked again in 2024 and we will see it in action for the second time this weekend at the Miami International Autodrome.

What is a sprint race in F1 and how does qualifying work?

Christian Horner reacts to prospect of Adrian Newey joining Ferrari

Christian Horner believes Adrian Newey will “take some time” to decide his future – but refused to rule out the prospect that Red Bull’s design guru could join Ferrari next year.

Red Bull confirmed the departure of their chief technical officer Newey, the man praised with this current era of car which is dominating Formula 1 currently, earlier this week after 18 years.

Newey had a contract until the end of 2025 – signed last May – but is said to be unhappy with the current power struggle within the team, focused on team principal Horner and long-term adviser Helmut Marko, in the wake of the scandal engulfing F1 boss Horner and his conduct towards a female colleague.

Now, Newey is set to leave early next year, with Ferrari the most likely destination for his services where he would potentially form a partnership with Lewis Hamilton in Italy in 2025. Aston Martin have also made a big-money offer.

Full quotes below:

Christian Horner reacts to prospect of Adrian Newey joining Ferrari