Oscar Piastri extended his lead in the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship to 16 points after taking an emphatic victory at the Miami Grand Prix, marking his third consecutive win and McLaren’s third one-two finish of the season.

The 57-lap race at the Miami International Autodrome began with Max Verstappen defending his pole position into the first corner. However, early drama unfolded as a slight oversteer moment forced McLaren’s Lando Norris to take avoiding action, dropping him from second to sixth. This shuffle allowed Piastri, starting fourth, to move up to third behind Verstappen and Kimi Antonelli.

Norris wasted little time recovering, quickly dispatching the midfield runners to rejoin the podium hunt. Piastri, meanwhile, calmly overtook Antonelli and closed in on Verstappen. The Red Bull driver initially defended aggressively, but his mistake on lap 14—locking up at Turn 1 and running wide—opened the door for Piastri to seize the lead. Verstappen’s error handed Piastri a crucial advantage that only grew as Norris moved past Verstappen four laps later.

The McLaren pair benefitted from a mid-race virtual safety car, allowing them to pit simultaneously without losing track position. Piastri’s pace was untouchable as he controlled the remainder of the race with poise and precision, extending his lead over Norris despite the Briton’s late-race charge.

The threat of thunderstorms never materialized, leaving Piastri free to enjoy his triumph. In parc ferme, the normally reserved Australian let loose with a rare and jubilant celebration, underscoring the significance of his performance. McLaren’s MCL39 proved to be the class of the field, with Piastri ultimately crossing the line 37.6 seconds clear of third-placed George Russell.

Russell capitalized on the virtual safety car to leapfrog Verstappen, who faded to fourth after his early duel with the McLarens. The result underscored the momentum shift in the championship battle, with Piastri’s relentless form putting the rest of the field on notice.

McLaren’s sweep of the Miami Grand Prix also secured maximum points in the Constructors’ standings, cementing their status as the team to beat in the early stages of the season. With Piastri in sparkling form and Norris in close pursuit, McLaren’s Miami statement was as emphatic as it was historic.

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