2024 F1 Round 6, Miami Sprint: Verstappen Wins Ahead of Leclerc, Ricciardo Fourth and Tsunoda Eighth Give RB First Double Points Finish of the Season

The 2024 Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix Sprint, at round six of the season, took place over 19 laps at the Miami International Autodrome in the early hours of 5 May Beijing time. Pole-sitter Max Verstappen led throughout and took victory in 31 minutes 31.383 seconds. Charles Leclerc finished second, 3.371 seconds behind, and Sergio Pérez third, leaving the top three in the same order as on the grid.

RB was the real winner, with Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda both finishing in the top eight to deliver the team’s first double points finish of the season. Ricciardo started fourth and passed Pérez at the start to move into third. The Mexican retook the position on lap four, but Ricciardo then resisted sustained pressure from Carlos Sainz to finish fourth and collect five points, his first points of the season.

Tsunoda’s point came after an eventful race. He and Williams driver Logan Sargeant were the only two drivers to start on soft tyres, and the extra grip helped him gain five places on the opening lap. Ahead, Kevin Magnussen and Lewis Hamilton fought fiercely over a points position. On lap 14, Hamilton passed Magnussen on the long straight, but the Dane forced his way back down the inside under braking and even went off track to keep his rival behind. Tsunoda took advantage of the confusion to pass both and move into eighth. Hamilton passed him on the final lap, dropping him to ninth, but a subsequent 20-second penalty for Hamilton for speeding in the pit lane under the safety car promoted Tsunoda back to eighth, adding one more point for RB.

The race began in chaos. At Turn 1 on the opening lap, contact between Hamilton and the Aston Martin cars also caught out Norris behind them. The right-rear of the McLaren was damaged and the safety car was deployed. Norris and Lance Stroll both retired. Fernando Alonso escaped but dropped to the back and ultimately finished only 17th. Esteban Ocon had hit Leclerc’s right-rear wheel while joining the fast lane on his way to a reconnaissance lap, damaging his front-wing endplate. The Alpine driver also received a ten-second penalty for an unsafe release and finished 15th.

Magnussen’s fierce defence ultimately earned him three penalties totalling 35 seconds. The stewards also judged his actions against Hamilton potentially unsporting and summoned him after the race. Alexander Albon, who had finished last in Sprint qualifying because of track-limits infringements, opted to change his setup and start from the pit lane. He eventually finished 13th. Pierre Gasly, Sargeant and Zhou Guanyu were ninth, tenth and 11th respectively, while Nico Hülkenberg brought Haas two points.

Verstappen waved to the spectators in the grandstands after taking the chequered flag. His eight Sprint points further extended his championship lead. Oscar Piastri finished sixth and Sainz fifth. Both Ferraris and Piastri’s McLaren battled in the points positions, setting the scene for Sunday’s Grand Prix.