Miami Formula One sprint race: Max Verstappen wins sprint as Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton clash

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen leads the pack at the start of the sprint race at the Formula One Miami Grand Prix. Photo / AP

Max Verstappen won the Formula One sprint race in Miami as Fernando Alonso accused Lewis Hamilton of “arriving like a bull” as they collided at the first corner.

Verstappen controlled the 19-lap race, which was interrupted by an opening-lap safety car after Hamilton was involved in a coming together with Alonso, to claim a dominant win.

Charles Leclerc finished second for Ferrari with Red Bull’s Sergio Perez third. Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo started and finished an impressive fourth.

Hamilton originally finished eighth following a ding-dong battle with Kevin Magnussen but was penalised for speeding in the pit lane, which dropped him to 16th.

Pole-sitter Verstappen held off Leclerc on the short run down to the opening bend at the Hard Rock Stadium to lay down the foundations for a victory which sees him extend his championship lead over Perez from 25 points to 27.

But the action unfolded behind Verstappen with Hamilton taking centre stage. The seven-time world champion, starting from a lowly 12th, enjoyed a strong getaway in his Mercedes before slinging his machine down the inside of an unsuspecting Alonso, four places ahead of him on the grid.

Hamilton bumped into Alonso’s Aston Martin who then collided with team-mate Lance Stroll. Lando Norris was minding his own business on the outside of the opening right-hander only for Stroll, sent out of control by Alonso, to hit the British driver’s McLaren.

Stroll and Norris both retired with damage while Alonso had to limp back to the pits with a puncture. “Whoa,” said Alonso, 43, over the radio. “Hamilton arrived like a bull.”

Hamilton was on the intercom, too. “There was a gap on the inside so I went for it,” he said, protesting his innocence.

Your #F1Sprint points-scorers! 📈

Max leads home Charles and Checo as the Miami weekend goes up another notch 🔊#F1 #MiamiGP pic.twitter.com/p3sxLqQJjR

— Formula 1 (@F1) May 4, 2024