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Charles Leclerc offers hope to Ferrari fans in Miami

McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, who won last year’s race, was a close third ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, four-time Max Verstappen of Red Bull and early season leader George Russell of Mercedes.

Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton was seventh in the second Ferrari, the Italian team along with Red Bull having brought major upgrade packages to the Miami race.

It was the first time this year that Mercedes had been outpaced in a qualifying session, after three races run before the five-week hiatus due to the conflict in the Middle East.

A disappointed Russell said, “I think it is pretty surprising how big a jump McLaren and Ferrari have made. It’s much bigger than we expected, even if this has never been a favourite circuit for me.”

He added that he had struggled with overheating tyres and other problems throughout Friday.

Verstappen was also disappointed, but realistic and said he could see the positives in Red Bull’s improved performance thanks to their upgrades, but added that the team were still “very weak” in the high-speed section of the track.

“We need to work on that,” he said, a comment repeated by Ferrari’s Hamilton, who said he had hoped Ferrari’s extensive upgrade package would have delivered greater rewards.

Published on May 02, 2026

#Miami #Grand #Prix #Lando #Norris #beats #Kimi #Antonelli #sprint #pole"> Miami Grand Prix: Lando Norris beats Kimi Antonelli for sprint pole  World champion Lando Norris beamed in the Florida sunshine Friday after steering his upgraded McLaren to pole position for Saturday’s sprint race at the Miami Grand Prix.The 26-year-old Briton made the most of the extensive upgrades on his car to outpace Mercedes’ Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli, at 19 the youngest man to lead the drivers’ championship in F1 history, and end Mercedes’ early season domination.“I’ve always loved Miami, both on and off the track,” said Norris, who claimed his maiden F1 triumph at the compact circuit built around the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens in 2024. “And this is a good result for us, but still only at the beginning of the weekend.“There’s still a long way to go, but it’s nice to kick off by doing this. We’ve got a lot of new upgrades on the car and it is nice to feel some grip again — and nice to reward the guys and girls who have put a lot of work into this.”Asked if he felt this indicated that the defending constructors’ champions had regained the initiative from McLaren, Norris was cautious.“It’s so tough to know because every track is different. We’ve known that this track has always been good to us, but we knew that what we were bringing was hopefully going to be a good step so it’s nice that our estimations have proved to be correct.“The team deserve that… Since the first lap today, I felt very comfortable and I thought I had a bit of rear grip, so it is good to start with pole.”ALSO READ | Charles Leclerc offers hope to Ferrari fans in MiamiMcLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, who won last year’s race, was a close third ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, four-time Max Verstappen of Red Bull and early season leader George Russell of Mercedes.Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton was seventh in the second Ferrari, the Italian team along with Red Bull having brought major upgrade packages to the Miami race.It was the first time this year that Mercedes had been outpaced in a qualifying session, after three races run before the five-week hiatus due to the conflict in the Middle East.A disappointed Russell said, “I think it is pretty surprising how big a jump McLaren and Ferrari have made. It’s much bigger than we expected, even if this has never been a favourite circuit for me.”He added that he had struggled with overheating tyres and other problems throughout Friday.Verstappen was also disappointed, but realistic and said he could see the positives in Red Bull’s improved performance thanks to their upgrades, but added that the team were still “very weak” in the high-speed section of the track.“We need to work on that,” he said, a comment repeated by Ferrari’s Hamilton, who said he had hoped Ferrari’s extensive upgrade package would have delivered greater rewards.Published on May 02, 2026  #Miami #Grand #Prix #Lando #Norris #beats #Kimi #Antonelli #sprint #pole
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Charles Leclerc offers hope to Ferrari fans in Miami

McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, who won last year’s race, was a close third ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, four-time Max Verstappen of Red Bull and early season leader George Russell of Mercedes.

Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton was seventh in the second Ferrari, the Italian team along with Red Bull having brought major upgrade packages to the Miami race.

It was the first time this year that Mercedes had been outpaced in a qualifying session, after three races run before the five-week hiatus due to the conflict in the Middle East.

A disappointed Russell said, “I think it is pretty surprising how big a jump McLaren and Ferrari have made. It’s much bigger than we expected, even if this has never been a favourite circuit for me.”

He added that he had struggled with overheating tyres and other problems throughout Friday.

Verstappen was also disappointed, but realistic and said he could see the positives in Red Bull’s improved performance thanks to their upgrades, but added that the team were still “very weak” in the high-speed section of the track.

“We need to work on that,” he said, a comment repeated by Ferrari’s Hamilton, who said he had hoped Ferrari’s extensive upgrade package would have delivered greater rewards.

Published on May 02, 2026

#Miami #Grand #Prix #Lando #Norris #beats #Kimi #Antonelli #sprint #pole">Miami Grand Prix: Lando Norris beats Kimi Antonelli for sprint pole

World champion Lando Norris beamed in the Florida sunshine Friday after steering his upgraded McLaren to pole position for Saturday’s sprint race at the Miami Grand Prix.

The 26-year-old Briton made the most of the extensive upgrades on his car to outpace Mercedes’ Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli, at 19 the youngest man to lead the drivers’ championship in F1 history, and end Mercedes’ early season domination.

“I’ve always loved Miami, both on and off the track,” said Norris, who claimed his maiden F1 triumph at the compact circuit built around the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens in 2024. “And this is a good result for us, but still only at the beginning of the weekend.

“There’s still a long way to go, but it’s nice to kick off by doing this. We’ve got a lot of new upgrades on the car and it is nice to feel some grip again — and nice to reward the guys and girls who have put a lot of work into this.”

Asked if he felt this indicated that the defending constructors’ champions had regained the initiative from McLaren, Norris was cautious.

“It’s so tough to know because every track is different. We’ve known that this track has always been good to us, but we knew that what we were bringing was hopefully going to be a good step so it’s nice that our estimations have proved to be correct.

“The team deserve that… Since the first lap today, I felt very comfortable and I thought I had a bit of rear grip, so it is good to start with pole.”

ALSO READ | Charles Leclerc offers hope to Ferrari fans in Miami

McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, who won last year’s race, was a close third ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, four-time Max Verstappen of Red Bull and early season leader George Russell of Mercedes.

Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton was seventh in the second Ferrari, the Italian team along with Red Bull having brought major upgrade packages to the Miami race.

It was the first time this year that Mercedes had been outpaced in a qualifying session, after three races run before the five-week hiatus due to the conflict in the Middle East.

A disappointed Russell said, “I think it is pretty surprising how big a jump McLaren and Ferrari have made. It’s much bigger than we expected, even if this has never been a favourite circuit for me.”

He added that he had struggled with overheating tyres and other problems throughout Friday.

Verstappen was also disappointed, but realistic and said he could see the positives in Red Bull’s improved performance thanks to their upgrades, but added that the team were still “very weak” in the high-speed section of the track.

“We need to work on that,” he said, a comment repeated by Ferrari’s Hamilton, who said he had hoped Ferrari’s extensive upgrade package would have delivered greater rewards.

Published on May 02, 2026

#Miami #Grand #Prix #Lando #Norris #beats #Kimi #Antonelli #sprint #pole

World champion Lando Norris beamed in the Florida sunshine Friday after steering his upgraded McLaren…

McLaren celebrates legacy with Miami street show ahead of first race since last month’s Japanese GP

There’s precedent for such a schedule change. The 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix was rescheduled for an earlier start to avoid heavy storms forecast for later in the day.

Last year’s Miami sprint race was delayed by heavy rain and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc crashed his car during a pre-race installation lap in worsening conditions.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri warned that few of the drivers had any experience driving this year’s new era hybrid cars in wet conditions.

“I don’t think many of us have driven these cars in the rain before,” he said. “Maybe a couple of people did in Barcelona at the shakedown, but I think they’re going to be challenging cars to drive in the rain just because of some of the quirks that they have.

“And, obviously, normally if it rains in Miami — it does it properly! So we’ll have to wait and see. It’ll be interesting one way or another.”

Published on May 01, 2026

#Miami #start #time #change #due #thunderstorms #forecast"> Miami GP start time could change due to thunderstorms forecast  The start time of the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday could be moved up because of the risk of severe thunderstorms, top drivers said at a news conference on Thursday.Mexican driver Sergio Perez of the new American Cadillac team said he understood that the forecast was “looking really bad” and that emergency changes were being considered.Some local forecasters predicted there was an 85 per cent chance of heavy thunderstorms hitting the Miami International Autodrome on Sunday afternoon when the race is scheduled to start at 4pm local time (8pm GMT; 1:30am IST on Monday, May 4).“There is a meeting later on with the FIA to double-check the scenario for Sunday because apparently it’s looking really bad,” said Perez. “We’ll see if there are any changes on the schedule for the weekend.”ALSO READ | McLaren celebrates legacy with Miami street show ahead of first race since last month’s Japanese GPThere’s precedent for such a schedule change. The 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix was rescheduled for an earlier start to avoid heavy storms forecast for later in the day.Last year’s Miami sprint race was delayed by heavy rain and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc crashed his car during a pre-race installation lap in worsening conditions.McLaren’s Oscar Piastri warned that few of the drivers had any experience driving this year’s new era hybrid cars in wet conditions.“I don’t think many of us have driven these cars in the rain before,” he said. “Maybe a couple of people did in Barcelona at the shakedown, but I think they’re going to be challenging cars to drive in the rain just because of some of the quirks that they have.“And, obviously, normally if it rains in Miami — it does it properly! So we’ll have to wait and see. It’ll be interesting one way or another.”Published on May 01, 2026  #Miami #start #time #change #due #thunderstorms #forecast
Sports news

McLaren celebrates legacy with Miami street show ahead of first race since last month’s Japanese GP

There’s precedent for such a schedule change. The 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix was rescheduled for an earlier start to avoid heavy storms forecast for later in the day.

Last year’s Miami sprint race was delayed by heavy rain and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc crashed his car during a pre-race installation lap in worsening conditions.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri warned that few of the drivers had any experience driving this year’s new era hybrid cars in wet conditions.

“I don’t think many of us have driven these cars in the rain before,” he said. “Maybe a couple of people did in Barcelona at the shakedown, but I think they’re going to be challenging cars to drive in the rain just because of some of the quirks that they have.

“And, obviously, normally if it rains in Miami — it does it properly! So we’ll have to wait and see. It’ll be interesting one way or another.”

Published on May 01, 2026

#Miami #start #time #change #due #thunderstorms #forecast">Miami GP start time could change due to thunderstorms forecast

The start time of the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday could be moved up because of the risk of severe thunderstorms, top drivers said at a news conference on Thursday.

Mexican driver Sergio Perez of the new American Cadillac team said he understood that the forecast was “looking really bad” and that emergency changes were being considered.

Some local forecasters predicted there was an 85 per cent chance of heavy thunderstorms hitting the Miami International Autodrome on Sunday afternoon when the race is scheduled to start at 4pm local time (8pm GMT; 1:30am IST on Monday, May 4).

“There is a meeting later on with the FIA to double-check the scenario for Sunday because apparently it’s looking really bad,” said Perez. “We’ll see if there are any changes on the schedule for the weekend.”

ALSO READ | McLaren celebrates legacy with Miami street show ahead of first race since last month’s Japanese GP

There’s precedent for such a schedule change. The 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix was rescheduled for an earlier start to avoid heavy storms forecast for later in the day.

Last year’s Miami sprint race was delayed by heavy rain and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc crashed his car during a pre-race installation lap in worsening conditions.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri warned that few of the drivers had any experience driving this year’s new era hybrid cars in wet conditions.

“I don’t think many of us have driven these cars in the rain before,” he said. “Maybe a couple of people did in Barcelona at the shakedown, but I think they’re going to be challenging cars to drive in the rain just because of some of the quirks that they have.

“And, obviously, normally if it rains in Miami — it does it properly! So we’ll have to wait and see. It’ll be interesting one way or another.”

Published on May 01, 2026

#Miami #start #time #change #due #thunderstorms #forecast

The start time of the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday could be moved up because…

Audi appoints McNish as Racing Director ahead of Miami GP 

“It’s nice that I’ve played a small ⁠part in that but today is also a day where you get to see all the cars, the history, the drivers that have driven for McLaren,” added the Briton. “It’s a big milestone and I’m very proud of it.”

FITTIPALDI, 79, STILL AT ​THE WHEEL

McLaren celebrates F1 legacy with Miami street show ahead of first race since last month’s Japanese GP  McLaren showed off its ​Formula One heritage with a deafening display of title-winning cars driven by champions past and present on the streets ‌of Miami on Wednesday.Reigning champion Lando Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri joined double ​champions Mika Hakkinen and Emerson Fittipaldi in thrilling the fans ahead of what would ⁠have been a 1,000th grand prix celebration but for conflict in the Middle East.The cancellation of April races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia as a result of the Iran war means the milestone, achieved previously only by Ferrari, ‌will now be marked officially in Monaco in June — the race where the team founded by New Zealander Bruce McLaren debuted in 1966.“We were meant, obviously, to celebrate it ‌here,” Norris told        Reuters before taking his 2025 car for a spin — literally — at Regatta ‌Harbour ⁠in the Florida city’s historic Coconut Grove area.READ | Audi appoints McNish as Racing Director ahead of Miami GP “It’s nice that I’ve played a small ⁠part in that but today is also a day where you get to see all the cars, the history, the drivers that have driven for McLaren,” added the Briton. “It’s a big milestone and I’m very proud of it.”FITTIPALDI, 79, STILL AT ​THE WHEEL Emerson Fittipaldi, McLaren’s first champion from 1974, drove the M23 during the event.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                REUTERS
                            

                            Emerson Fittipaldi, McLaren’s first champion from 1974, drove the M23 during the event.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                REUTERS
                                                    Brazilian Fittipaldi, McLaren’s first champion in 1974 ‌and now 79-years-old, drove a V8-engined McLaren M23 similar to the one that took the late James Hunt to the 1976 crown.“I was the first one, I made a small part of McLaren history but then McLaren has a huge history and I’m very proud to be ‌here,” Fittipaldi, who won his first title with Lotus in 1972, told Reuters.Hakkinen, the 1998 ​and 1999 champion, shook the ground with his V10-powered MP4-14 while Bruno Senna, nephew of Brazil’s late triple champion Ayrton, drove his uncle’s MP4/6 with its ear-splitting V12. Two-time champion Mika Hakkinen in his V10-powered MP4-14 during the event.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                Marco Bello
                            

                            Two-time champion Mika Hakkinen in his V10-powered MP4-14 during the event.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                Marco Bello
                                                    Brazilian ⁠Tony Kanaan, the 2013 Indianapolis 500 winner, also drove an Arrow McLaren IndyCar.“To just be alongside them, even just to be able to talk to them is really cool,” said Piastri.Norris and Piastri, driving Lewis ‌Hamilton’s 2008 title-winner, then took to the track together to salute the cheering throng before interviews on a stage.“It was nice to see so many people and it was just good to have a bit of fun,” said Norris. “Normally we have to be all serious and drive properly … we don’t get to just go out and do (tyre) burnouts and stuff.“I won the championship last year and wasn’t allowed to do any burnouts. So it was nice to just let loose and have a nice ‌day out.”McLaren has won the last two Miami Grands Prix — Piastri last year and Norris in 2024 — and Sunday could ​complete a hat-trick although Mercedes has been dominant since the start of a new engine and rules era.The Australian was cautious in offering any prediction, however, ahead of ⁠a weekend that could also see some thunderstorms and that will also be the first test of the ⁠rules since they were tweaked.“I think last year, and even 2024, we had a really big advantage around a place like this and this year we don’t have that so ‌we’ll have to wait and see,” said Piastri.“I think it’s going to be a weekend full of changes and trying to get on top of things better than everybody else. And if ​we can do that then there’s still going to be opportunities to finish higher than maybe where you should.”Published on Apr 30, 2026  #McLaren #celebrates #legacy #Miami #street #show #ahead #race #months #Japanese

Emerson Fittipaldi, McLaren’s first champion from 1974, drove the M23 during the event. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

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Emerson Fittipaldi, McLaren’s first champion from 1974, drove the M23 during the event. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Brazilian Fittipaldi, McLaren’s first champion in 1974 ‌and now 79-years-old, drove a V8-engined McLaren M23 similar to the one that took the late James Hunt to the 1976 crown.

“I was the first one, I made a small part of McLaren history but then McLaren has a huge history and I’m very proud to be ‌here,” Fittipaldi, who won his first title with Lotus in 1972, told Reuters.

Hakkinen, the 1998 ​and 1999 champion, shook the ground with his V10-powered MP4-14 while Bruno Senna, nephew of Brazil’s late triple champion Ayrton, drove his uncle’s MP4/6 with its ear-splitting V12.

Two-time champion Mika Hakkinen in his V10-powered MP4-14 during the event.

Two-time champion Mika Hakkinen in his V10-powered MP4-14 during the event. | Photo Credit: Marco Bello

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Two-time champion Mika Hakkinen in his V10-powered MP4-14 during the event. | Photo Credit: Marco Bello

Brazilian ⁠Tony Kanaan, the 2013 Indianapolis 500 winner, also drove an Arrow McLaren IndyCar.

“To just be alongside them, even just to be able to talk to them is really cool,” said Piastri.

Norris and Piastri, driving Lewis ‌Hamilton’s 2008 title-winner, then took to the track together to salute the cheering throng before interviews on a stage.

“It was nice to see so many people and it was just good to have a bit of fun,” said Norris. “Normally we have to be all serious and drive properly … we don’t get to just go out and do (tyre) burnouts and stuff.

“I won the championship last year and wasn’t allowed to do any burnouts. So it was nice to just let loose and have a nice ‌day out.”

McLaren has won the last two Miami Grands Prix — Piastri last year and Norris in 2024 — and Sunday could ​complete a hat-trick although Mercedes has been dominant since the start of a new engine and rules era.

The Australian was cautious in offering any prediction, however, ahead of ⁠a weekend that could also see some thunderstorms and that will also be the first test of the ⁠rules since they were tweaked.

“I think last year, and even 2024, we had a really big advantage around a place like this and this year we don’t have that so ‌we’ll have to wait and see,” said Piastri.

“I think it’s going to be a weekend full of changes and trying to get on top of things better than everybody else. And if ​we can do that then there’s still going to be opportunities to finish higher than maybe where you should.”

Published on Apr 30, 2026

#McLaren #celebrates #legacy #Miami #street #show #ahead #race #months #Japanese"> McLaren celebrates F1 legacy with Miami street show ahead of first race since last month’s Japanese GP  McLaren showed off its ​Formula One heritage with a deafening display of title-winning cars driven by champions past and present on the streets ‌of Miami on Wednesday.Reigning champion Lando Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri joined double ​champions Mika Hakkinen and Emerson Fittipaldi in thrilling the fans ahead of what would ⁠have been a 1,000th grand prix celebration but for conflict in the Middle East.The cancellation of April races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia as a result of the Iran war means the milestone, achieved previously only by Ferrari, ‌will now be marked officially in Monaco in June — the race where the team founded by New Zealander Bruce McLaren debuted in 1966.“We were meant, obviously, to celebrate it ‌here,” Norris told        Reuters before taking his 2025 car for a spin — literally — at Regatta ‌Harbour ⁠in the Florida city’s historic Coconut Grove area.READ | Audi appoints McNish as Racing Director ahead of Miami GP “It’s nice that I’ve played a small ⁠part in that but today is also a day where you get to see all the cars, the history, the drivers that have driven for McLaren,” added the Briton. “It’s a big milestone and I’m very proud of it.”FITTIPALDI, 79, STILL AT ​THE WHEEL Emerson Fittipaldi, McLaren’s first champion from 1974, drove the M23 during the event.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                REUTERS
                            

                            Emerson Fittipaldi, McLaren’s first champion from 1974, drove the M23 during the event.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                REUTERS
                                                    Brazilian Fittipaldi, McLaren’s first champion in 1974 ‌and now 79-years-old, drove a V8-engined McLaren M23 similar to the one that took the late James Hunt to the 1976 crown.“I was the first one, I made a small part of McLaren history but then McLaren has a huge history and I’m very proud to be ‌here,” Fittipaldi, who won his first title with Lotus in 1972, told Reuters.Hakkinen, the 1998 ​and 1999 champion, shook the ground with his V10-powered MP4-14 while Bruno Senna, nephew of Brazil’s late triple champion Ayrton, drove his uncle’s MP4/6 with its ear-splitting V12. Two-time champion Mika Hakkinen in his V10-powered MP4-14 during the event.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                Marco Bello
                            

                            Two-time champion Mika Hakkinen in his V10-powered MP4-14 during the event.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                Marco Bello
                                                    Brazilian ⁠Tony Kanaan, the 2013 Indianapolis 500 winner, also drove an Arrow McLaren IndyCar.“To just be alongside them, even just to be able to talk to them is really cool,” said Piastri.Norris and Piastri, driving Lewis ‌Hamilton’s 2008 title-winner, then took to the track together to salute the cheering throng before interviews on a stage.“It was nice to see so many people and it was just good to have a bit of fun,” said Norris. “Normally we have to be all serious and drive properly … we don’t get to just go out and do (tyre) burnouts and stuff.“I won the championship last year and wasn’t allowed to do any burnouts. So it was nice to just let loose and have a nice ‌day out.”McLaren has won the last two Miami Grands Prix — Piastri last year and Norris in 2024 — and Sunday could ​complete a hat-trick although Mercedes has been dominant since the start of a new engine and rules era.The Australian was cautious in offering any prediction, however, ahead of ⁠a weekend that could also see some thunderstorms and that will also be the first test of the ⁠rules since they were tweaked.“I think last year, and even 2024, we had a really big advantage around a place like this and this year we don’t have that so ‌we’ll have to wait and see,” said Piastri.“I think it’s going to be a weekend full of changes and trying to get on top of things better than everybody else. And if ​we can do that then there’s still going to be opportunities to finish higher than maybe where you should.”Published on Apr 30, 2026  #McLaren #celebrates #legacy #Miami #street #show #ahead #race #months #Japanese
Sports news

Audi appoints McNish as Racing Director ahead of Miami GP 

“It’s nice that I’ve played a small ⁠part in that but today is also a day where you get to see all the cars, the history, the drivers that have driven for McLaren,” added the Briton. “It’s a big milestone and I’m very proud of it.”

FITTIPALDI, 79, STILL AT ​THE WHEEL

McLaren celebrates F1 legacy with Miami street show ahead of first race since last month’s Japanese GP  McLaren showed off its ​Formula One heritage with a deafening display of title-winning cars driven by champions past and present on the streets ‌of Miami on Wednesday.Reigning champion Lando Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri joined double ​champions Mika Hakkinen and Emerson Fittipaldi in thrilling the fans ahead of what would ⁠have been a 1,000th grand prix celebration but for conflict in the Middle East.The cancellation of April races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia as a result of the Iran war means the milestone, achieved previously only by Ferrari, ‌will now be marked officially in Monaco in June — the race where the team founded by New Zealander Bruce McLaren debuted in 1966.“We were meant, obviously, to celebrate it ‌here,” Norris told        Reuters before taking his 2025 car for a spin — literally — at Regatta ‌Harbour ⁠in the Florida city’s historic Coconut Grove area.READ | Audi appoints McNish as Racing Director ahead of Miami GP “It’s nice that I’ve played a small ⁠part in that but today is also a day where you get to see all the cars, the history, the drivers that have driven for McLaren,” added the Briton. “It’s a big milestone and I’m very proud of it.”FITTIPALDI, 79, STILL AT ​THE WHEEL Emerson Fittipaldi, McLaren’s first champion from 1974, drove the M23 during the event.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                REUTERS
                            

                            Emerson Fittipaldi, McLaren’s first champion from 1974, drove the M23 during the event.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                REUTERS
                                                    Brazilian Fittipaldi, McLaren’s first champion in 1974 ‌and now 79-years-old, drove a V8-engined McLaren M23 similar to the one that took the late James Hunt to the 1976 crown.“I was the first one, I made a small part of McLaren history but then McLaren has a huge history and I’m very proud to be ‌here,” Fittipaldi, who won his first title with Lotus in 1972, told Reuters.Hakkinen, the 1998 ​and 1999 champion, shook the ground with his V10-powered MP4-14 while Bruno Senna, nephew of Brazil’s late triple champion Ayrton, drove his uncle’s MP4/6 with its ear-splitting V12. Two-time champion Mika Hakkinen in his V10-powered MP4-14 during the event.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                Marco Bello
                            

                            Two-time champion Mika Hakkinen in his V10-powered MP4-14 during the event.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                Marco Bello
                                                    Brazilian ⁠Tony Kanaan, the 2013 Indianapolis 500 winner, also drove an Arrow McLaren IndyCar.“To just be alongside them, even just to be able to talk to them is really cool,” said Piastri.Norris and Piastri, driving Lewis ‌Hamilton’s 2008 title-winner, then took to the track together to salute the cheering throng before interviews on a stage.“It was nice to see so many people and it was just good to have a bit of fun,” said Norris. “Normally we have to be all serious and drive properly … we don’t get to just go out and do (tyre) burnouts and stuff.“I won the championship last year and wasn’t allowed to do any burnouts. So it was nice to just let loose and have a nice ‌day out.”McLaren has won the last two Miami Grands Prix — Piastri last year and Norris in 2024 — and Sunday could ​complete a hat-trick although Mercedes has been dominant since the start of a new engine and rules era.The Australian was cautious in offering any prediction, however, ahead of ⁠a weekend that could also see some thunderstorms and that will also be the first test of the ⁠rules since they were tweaked.“I think last year, and even 2024, we had a really big advantage around a place like this and this year we don’t have that so ‌we’ll have to wait and see,” said Piastri.“I think it’s going to be a weekend full of changes and trying to get on top of things better than everybody else. And if ​we can do that then there’s still going to be opportunities to finish higher than maybe where you should.”Published on Apr 30, 2026  #McLaren #celebrates #legacy #Miami #street #show #ahead #race #months #Japanese

Emerson Fittipaldi, McLaren’s first champion from 1974, drove the M23 during the event. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

lightbox-info

Emerson Fittipaldi, McLaren’s first champion from 1974, drove the M23 during the event. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Brazilian Fittipaldi, McLaren’s first champion in 1974 ‌and now 79-years-old, drove a V8-engined McLaren M23 similar to the one that took the late James Hunt to the 1976 crown.

“I was the first one, I made a small part of McLaren history but then McLaren has a huge history and I’m very proud to be ‌here,” Fittipaldi, who won his first title with Lotus in 1972, told Reuters.

Hakkinen, the 1998 ​and 1999 champion, shook the ground with his V10-powered MP4-14 while Bruno Senna, nephew of Brazil’s late triple champion Ayrton, drove his uncle’s MP4/6 with its ear-splitting V12.

Two-time champion Mika Hakkinen in his V10-powered MP4-14 during the event.

Two-time champion Mika Hakkinen in his V10-powered MP4-14 during the event. | Photo Credit: Marco Bello

lightbox-info

Two-time champion Mika Hakkinen in his V10-powered MP4-14 during the event. | Photo Credit: Marco Bello

Brazilian ⁠Tony Kanaan, the 2013 Indianapolis 500 winner, also drove an Arrow McLaren IndyCar.

“To just be alongside them, even just to be able to talk to them is really cool,” said Piastri.

Norris and Piastri, driving Lewis ‌Hamilton’s 2008 title-winner, then took to the track together to salute the cheering throng before interviews on a stage.

“It was nice to see so many people and it was just good to have a bit of fun,” said Norris. “Normally we have to be all serious and drive properly … we don’t get to just go out and do (tyre) burnouts and stuff.

“I won the championship last year and wasn’t allowed to do any burnouts. So it was nice to just let loose and have a nice ‌day out.”

McLaren has won the last two Miami Grands Prix — Piastri last year and Norris in 2024 — and Sunday could ​complete a hat-trick although Mercedes has been dominant since the start of a new engine and rules era.

The Australian was cautious in offering any prediction, however, ahead of ⁠a weekend that could also see some thunderstorms and that will also be the first test of the ⁠rules since they were tweaked.

“I think last year, and even 2024, we had a really big advantage around a place like this and this year we don’t have that so ‌we’ll have to wait and see,” said Piastri.

“I think it’s going to be a weekend full of changes and trying to get on top of things better than everybody else. And if ​we can do that then there’s still going to be opportunities to finish higher than maybe where you should.”

Published on Apr 30, 2026

#McLaren #celebrates #legacy #Miami #street #show #ahead #race #months #Japanese">McLaren celebrates F1 legacy with Miami street show ahead of first race since last month’s Japanese GP

McLaren showed off its ​Formula One heritage with a deafening display of title-winning cars driven by champions past and present on the streets ‌of Miami on Wednesday.

Reigning champion Lando Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri joined double ​champions Mika Hakkinen and Emerson Fittipaldi in thrilling the fans ahead of what would ⁠have been a 1,000th grand prix celebration but for conflict in the Middle East.

The cancellation of April races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia as a result of the Iran war means the milestone, achieved previously only by Ferrari, ‌will now be marked officially in Monaco in June — the race where the team founded by New Zealander Bruce McLaren debuted in 1966.

“We were meant, obviously, to celebrate it ‌here,” Norris told Reuters before taking his 2025 car for a spin — literally — at Regatta ‌Harbour ⁠in the Florida city’s historic Coconut Grove area.

READ | Audi appoints McNish as Racing Director ahead of Miami GP 

“It’s nice that I’ve played a small ⁠part in that but today is also a day where you get to see all the cars, the history, the drivers that have driven for McLaren,” added the Briton. “It’s a big milestone and I’m very proud of it.”

FITTIPALDI, 79, STILL AT ​THE WHEEL

McLaren celebrates F1 legacy with Miami street show ahead of first race since last month’s Japanese GP  McLaren showed off its ​Formula One heritage with a deafening display of title-winning cars driven by champions past and present on the streets ‌of Miami on Wednesday.Reigning champion Lando Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri joined double ​champions Mika Hakkinen and Emerson Fittipaldi in thrilling the fans ahead of what would ⁠have been a 1,000th grand prix celebration but for conflict in the Middle East.The cancellation of April races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia as a result of the Iran war means the milestone, achieved previously only by Ferrari, ‌will now be marked officially in Monaco in June — the race where the team founded by New Zealander Bruce McLaren debuted in 1966.“We were meant, obviously, to celebrate it ‌here,” Norris told        Reuters before taking his 2025 car for a spin — literally — at Regatta ‌Harbour ⁠in the Florida city’s historic Coconut Grove area.READ | Audi appoints McNish as Racing Director ahead of Miami GP “It’s nice that I’ve played a small ⁠part in that but today is also a day where you get to see all the cars, the history, the drivers that have driven for McLaren,” added the Briton. “It’s a big milestone and I’m very proud of it.”FITTIPALDI, 79, STILL AT ​THE WHEEL Emerson Fittipaldi, McLaren’s first champion from 1974, drove the M23 during the event.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                REUTERS
                            

                            Emerson Fittipaldi, McLaren’s first champion from 1974, drove the M23 during the event.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                REUTERS
                                                    Brazilian Fittipaldi, McLaren’s first champion in 1974 ‌and now 79-years-old, drove a V8-engined McLaren M23 similar to the one that took the late James Hunt to the 1976 crown.“I was the first one, I made a small part of McLaren history but then McLaren has a huge history and I’m very proud to be ‌here,” Fittipaldi, who won his first title with Lotus in 1972, told Reuters.Hakkinen, the 1998 ​and 1999 champion, shook the ground with his V10-powered MP4-14 while Bruno Senna, nephew of Brazil’s late triple champion Ayrton, drove his uncle’s MP4/6 with its ear-splitting V12. Two-time champion Mika Hakkinen in his V10-powered MP4-14 during the event.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                Marco Bello
                            

                            Two-time champion Mika Hakkinen in his V10-powered MP4-14 during the event.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                Marco Bello
                                                    Brazilian ⁠Tony Kanaan, the 2013 Indianapolis 500 winner, also drove an Arrow McLaren IndyCar.“To just be alongside them, even just to be able to talk to them is really cool,” said Piastri.Norris and Piastri, driving Lewis ‌Hamilton’s 2008 title-winner, then took to the track together to salute the cheering throng before interviews on a stage.“It was nice to see so many people and it was just good to have a bit of fun,” said Norris. “Normally we have to be all serious and drive properly … we don’t get to just go out and do (tyre) burnouts and stuff.“I won the championship last year and wasn’t allowed to do any burnouts. So it was nice to just let loose and have a nice ‌day out.”McLaren has won the last two Miami Grands Prix — Piastri last year and Norris in 2024 — and Sunday could ​complete a hat-trick although Mercedes has been dominant since the start of a new engine and rules era.The Australian was cautious in offering any prediction, however, ahead of ⁠a weekend that could also see some thunderstorms and that will also be the first test of the ⁠rules since they were tweaked.“I think last year, and even 2024, we had a really big advantage around a place like this and this year we don’t have that so ‌we’ll have to wait and see,” said Piastri.“I think it’s going to be a weekend full of changes and trying to get on top of things better than everybody else. And if ​we can do that then there’s still going to be opportunities to finish higher than maybe where you should.”Published on Apr 30, 2026  #McLaren #celebrates #legacy #Miami #street #show #ahead #race #months #Japanese

Emerson Fittipaldi, McLaren’s first champion from 1974, drove the M23 during the event. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

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Emerson Fittipaldi, McLaren’s first champion from 1974, drove the M23 during the event. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Brazilian Fittipaldi, McLaren’s first champion in 1974 ‌and now 79-years-old, drove a V8-engined McLaren M23 similar to the one that took the late James Hunt to the 1976 crown.

“I was the first one, I made a small part of McLaren history but then McLaren has a huge history and I’m very proud to be ‌here,” Fittipaldi, who won his first title with Lotus in 1972, told Reuters.

Hakkinen, the 1998 ​and 1999 champion, shook the ground with his V10-powered MP4-14 while Bruno Senna, nephew of Brazil’s late triple champion Ayrton, drove his uncle’s MP4/6 with its ear-splitting V12.

Two-time champion Mika Hakkinen in his V10-powered MP4-14 during the event.

Two-time champion Mika Hakkinen in his V10-powered MP4-14 during the event. | Photo Credit: Marco Bello

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Two-time champion Mika Hakkinen in his V10-powered MP4-14 during the event. | Photo Credit: Marco Bello

Brazilian ⁠Tony Kanaan, the 2013 Indianapolis 500 winner, also drove an Arrow McLaren IndyCar.

“To just be alongside them, even just to be able to talk to them is really cool,” said Piastri.

Norris and Piastri, driving Lewis ‌Hamilton’s 2008 title-winner, then took to the track together to salute the cheering throng before interviews on a stage.

“It was nice to see so many people and it was just good to have a bit of fun,” said Norris. “Normally we have to be all serious and drive properly … we don’t get to just go out and do (tyre) burnouts and stuff.

“I won the championship last year and wasn’t allowed to do any burnouts. So it was nice to just let loose and have a nice ‌day out.”

McLaren has won the last two Miami Grands Prix — Piastri last year and Norris in 2024 — and Sunday could ​complete a hat-trick although Mercedes has been dominant since the start of a new engine and rules era.

The Australian was cautious in offering any prediction, however, ahead of ⁠a weekend that could also see some thunderstorms and that will also be the first test of the ⁠rules since they were tweaked.

“I think last year, and even 2024, we had a really big advantage around a place like this and this year we don’t have that so ‌we’ll have to wait and see,” said Piastri.

“I think it’s going to be a weekend full of changes and trying to get on top of things better than everybody else. And if ​we can do that then there’s still going to be opportunities to finish higher than maybe where you should.”

Published on Apr 30, 2026

#McLaren #celebrates #legacy #Miami #street #show #ahead #race #months #Japanese

McLaren showed off its ​Formula One heritage with a deafening display of title-winning cars driven…

Miami Grand Prix practice extended after rule changes, race cancellations

There has been no racing in ‌April because the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix were called off due to the West Asia tensions. That means Miami will be the fourth race of the season rather than the sixth.

“Across Miami and ‌Canada we will see an entirely new MCL40 (car)… this is what I would ​expect of most of our competitors so it’s not necessarily going to be a shift in the pecking order, it will be effectively ⁠just a check who has been able to add more performance within the same timeframe,” said Stella.

The team is third in the standings, 89 points behind Mercedes which finished ‌the first two races one-two.

McLaren, constructors’ champion for the past two years and winner of the drivers’ title last year with Lando Norris, is more limited than others on wind tunnel use and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) because each team’s allocation is linked to where it finishes each season.

However chief designer Rob Marshall told reporters that was not the big disadvantage it appeared to be.

“The truth of it is you have many ‌potential developments that you want to run through CFD or the wind tunnel and some are good ​and some are bad,” he said.

“So if you’re bright and you approach it the right way and you think about stuff methodically… you just ⁠don’t bother doing the stuff that wasn’t worth doing and you carry on doing the ⁠stuff at the top of the list.

“So in a way you free up resources, because if you’ve got a lot of wind tunnel resources and ‌CFD time, you end up doing a lot of stuff that’s nice to have — but actually we’re not in the business of nice to have. We’re in ​the business of the stuff that actually works and so that’s the stuff you do.”

Published on Apr 23, 2026

#McLaren #completely #car #Miami #Grand #Prix"> McLaren will have ‘completely new’ car for Miami Grand Prix  Champion McLaren ​will have “a completely new car” when Formula One returns from a five-week break at the Miami ‌Grand Prix in May, according to team principal Andrea Stella.Mercedes, which ​provides McLaren’s engines, has won all three races so far this season ⁠but the last race in Japan was closer between the two teams.Australian Oscar Piastri ended up second to Mercedes’ Italian Kimi Antonelli at Suzuka and might have won but for a safety ‌car period helping his rival.“There was always the idea to deliver a completely new car, especially from an aerodynamic upgrades point of view, for ‌the North American races,” Stella told reporters at the team’s factory.“We could keep ‌up ⁠with this plan. Obviously, the fact that the calendar has been changed ⁠sort of helped a little bit, like I’m sure (it) helped all the other teams that could work more streamlined towards upgrading the car rather than being busy with racing.”ALSO READ | Miami Grand Prix practice extended after rule changes, race cancellationsThere has been no racing in ‌April because the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix were called off due to the West Asia tensions. That means Miami will be the fourth race of the season rather than the sixth.“Across Miami and ‌Canada we will see an entirely new MCL40 (car)… this is what I would ​expect of most of our competitors so it’s not necessarily going to be a shift in the pecking order, it will be effectively ⁠just a check who has been able to add more performance within the same timeframe,” said Stella.The team is third in the standings, 89 points behind Mercedes which finished ‌the first two races one-two.McLaren, constructors’ champion for the past two years and winner of the drivers’ title last year with Lando Norris, is more limited than others on wind tunnel use and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) because each team’s allocation is linked to where it finishes each season.However chief designer Rob Marshall told reporters that was not the big disadvantage it appeared to be.“The truth of it is you have many ‌potential developments that you want to run through CFD or the wind tunnel and some are good ​and some are bad,” he said.“So if you’re bright and you approach it the right way and you think about stuff methodically… you just ⁠don’t bother doing the stuff that wasn’t worth doing and you carry on doing the ⁠stuff at the top of the list.“So in a way you free up resources, because if you’ve got a lot of wind tunnel resources and ‌CFD time, you end up doing a lot of stuff that’s nice to have — but actually we’re not in the business of nice to have. We’re in ​the business of the stuff that actually works and so that’s the stuff you do.”Published on Apr 23, 2026  #McLaren #completely #car #Miami #Grand #Prix
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Miami Grand Prix practice extended after rule changes, race cancellations

There has been no racing in ‌April because the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix were called off due to the West Asia tensions. That means Miami will be the fourth race of the season rather than the sixth.

“Across Miami and ‌Canada we will see an entirely new MCL40 (car)… this is what I would ​expect of most of our competitors so it’s not necessarily going to be a shift in the pecking order, it will be effectively ⁠just a check who has been able to add more performance within the same timeframe,” said Stella.

The team is third in the standings, 89 points behind Mercedes which finished ‌the first two races one-two.

McLaren, constructors’ champion for the past two years and winner of the drivers’ title last year with Lando Norris, is more limited than others on wind tunnel use and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) because each team’s allocation is linked to where it finishes each season.

However chief designer Rob Marshall told reporters that was not the big disadvantage it appeared to be.

“The truth of it is you have many ‌potential developments that you want to run through CFD or the wind tunnel and some are good ​and some are bad,” he said.

“So if you’re bright and you approach it the right way and you think about stuff methodically… you just ⁠don’t bother doing the stuff that wasn’t worth doing and you carry on doing the ⁠stuff at the top of the list.

“So in a way you free up resources, because if you’ve got a lot of wind tunnel resources and ‌CFD time, you end up doing a lot of stuff that’s nice to have — but actually we’re not in the business of nice to have. We’re in ​the business of the stuff that actually works and so that’s the stuff you do.”

Published on Apr 23, 2026

#McLaren #completely #car #Miami #Grand #Prix">McLaren will have ‘completely new’ car for Miami Grand Prix

Champion McLaren ​will have “a completely new car” when Formula One returns from a five-week break at the Miami ‌Grand Prix in May, according to team principal Andrea Stella.

Mercedes, which ​provides McLaren’s engines, has won all three races so far this season ⁠but the last race in Japan was closer between the two teams.

Australian Oscar Piastri ended up second to Mercedes’ Italian Kimi Antonelli at Suzuka and might have won but for a safety ‌car period helping his rival.

“There was always the idea to deliver a completely new car, especially from an aerodynamic upgrades point of view, for ‌the North American races,” Stella told reporters at the team’s factory.

“We could keep ‌up ⁠with this plan. Obviously, the fact that the calendar has been changed ⁠sort of helped a little bit, like I’m sure (it) helped all the other teams that could work more streamlined towards upgrading the car rather than being busy with racing.”

ALSO READ | Miami Grand Prix practice extended after rule changes, race cancellations

There has been no racing in ‌April because the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix were called off due to the West Asia tensions. That means Miami will be the fourth race of the season rather than the sixth.

“Across Miami and ‌Canada we will see an entirely new MCL40 (car)… this is what I would ​expect of most of our competitors so it’s not necessarily going to be a shift in the pecking order, it will be effectively ⁠just a check who has been able to add more performance within the same timeframe,” said Stella.

The team is third in the standings, 89 points behind Mercedes which finished ‌the first two races one-two.

McLaren, constructors’ champion for the past two years and winner of the drivers’ title last year with Lando Norris, is more limited than others on wind tunnel use and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) because each team’s allocation is linked to where it finishes each season.

However chief designer Rob Marshall told reporters that was not the big disadvantage it appeared to be.

“The truth of it is you have many ‌potential developments that you want to run through CFD or the wind tunnel and some are good ​and some are bad,” he said.

“So if you’re bright and you approach it the right way and you think about stuff methodically… you just ⁠don’t bother doing the stuff that wasn’t worth doing and you carry on doing the ⁠stuff at the top of the list.

“So in a way you free up resources, because if you’ve got a lot of wind tunnel resources and ‌CFD time, you end up doing a lot of stuff that’s nice to have — but actually we’re not in the business of nice to have. We’re in ​the business of the stuff that actually works and so that’s the stuff you do.”

Published on Apr 23, 2026

#McLaren #completely #car #Miami #Grand #Prix

Champion McLaren ​will have “a completely new car” when Formula One returns from a five-week…