MIAMI | The Quebec driver’s sprint race at the Miami Grand Prix only lasted about a hundred meters. Because from the first turn, the Aston Martin driver was involved in a collision with his teammate Fernando Alonso and the McLaren of Lando Norris.
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After ending Daniel Ricciardo’s good run in China two weeks ago, Stroll has a new enemy: Norris.
“There was nothing I could have done. Today, we paid the price by driving among cars that don’t care about others,” said the 24-year-old Briton, frustrated by his hasty exit, speaking to Sky Sports.
AFP
Norris started from ninth place on the starting grid, just behind Stroll (7th) and Alonso (8th).
Is this clash the result of Stroll? Yes and no.
AFP
When arriving at the very tight first corner of the Miami International Autodrome, the Canadian was driving behind Oscar Piastri’s McLaren. His teammate Alonso was to his right in the center of the track. Stroll closed the door as his rear wheel touched that of the Spaniard.
The Hamilton Bull
Norris was on the outside of the bend, just in front of the two greenish single-seaters of the British team. But you also have to look inside the corner, since Lewis Hamilton was arriving there at full speed.
Alonso found himself trapped between his young teammate and Hamilton’s Mercedes. On the airwaves, he said “Lewis came in like a real bull.” The seven-time world champion explained that he had seen a gap and wanted to seize the opportunity to overtake a few cars.
A game of dominoes followed. Alonso fell back on Stroll who was driving a few millimeters to his left. And by branching off to his left, he hit Norris who suffered a crash when he lost control of his McLaren on the outside of the bend.
Both drivers saw their race immediately end.
In interviews with official F1 television networks, Stroll said only that his race had ended quickly and that “his car had a lot of damage.”
Getty Images via AFP
Alonso penultimate
Alonso finished 17th, ahead of Kevin Magnussen who received three penalties totaling 25 seconds during the 19-lap race. In the midst of a battle with Lewis Hamilton to maintain his eighth position, the Haas team driver, known for his combativeness, drove with the knife between his teeth, therefore exceeding the limits of the racing regulations.
He accepted each of his penalties, saying he didn’t like driving that way, but did it so teammate Nico Kulkenberg would ensure he finished with two points in the standings.
