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Oscar Piastri goes viral after epic Miami F1 Grand Prix

Oscar Piastri has performed a rare act after winning the drama-charged Miami Grand Prix which left Max Verstappen raging on radio.

Pumped up Piastri celebrates victory in Miami Grand Prix

Oscar Piastri has extended his lead of the Formula 1 world championship with a masterclass at the Miami Grand Prix on Monday morning.

The Aussie was nearly flawless as he took advantage of early chaos to take the race lead from Max Verstappen on Lap 15.

He never looked back.

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The win is Piastri’s fourth of the year.

McLaren teammate Lando Norris was the only one that challenged Piastri as the papaya cars rocketed away from the rest of the field in the later stages of the race.

You can watch the Aussie’s brilliant celebrations in the video player above.

He now leads the championship with 131 points — ahead of Norris (115) and reigning champ Max Verstappen.

The Red Bull driver had to settle for fourth with Mercedes’ George Russell finishing P3.

Huge breakthrough as Oscar finally overtakes Max

Piastri was grinning from ear to ear after the race — and he had good reason to do so.

The 24-year-old is the first McLaren driver to win three consecutive races since Mika Hakkinen in 1998.

He is also the first Australian to win three consecutive Formula 1 races since Alan Jones in 1981.

Piastri gave a rare display of showing-off after the win when he performed a cheeky “griddy” dance in front of his team in parc ferme.

The sight of the mild-mannered Melburnian executing the flashy viral ditty was too much for some fans to handle. Some versions of the clip have been viewed more than 100,000 times on X.

Jefferson teaches Piastri the Griddy before F1 Miami

Piastri had been taught how to perform the trending shimmy by none other than NFL star Justin Jefferson.

The Minnesota Vikings wide receiver was the first player in the NFL to perform the Fornite-inspired celebration.

Piastri, meanwhile, left some F1 commentators, including former world champ Damon Hill, in awe.

Piastri hits the Griddy after F1 Miami win

“Oscar Piastri is managing this brilliantly and it’s going to be very difficult for Lando Norris to close up,” Hill said on the BBC.

“Even if he does close up, he still needs to get past him.”

F1 guru Martin Brundle said after the race Piastri has a mental advantage over his teammate.

“His race craft is good as well, isn’t it,” Brundle said on Sky Sports.

Oscar Piastri hit the Griddy in front of the McLaren team.
Oscar Piastri hit the Griddy in front of the McLaren team.
McLaren's Australian driver Oscar Piastri celebrates. Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP.
McLaren's Australian driver Oscar Piastri celebrates. Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP.

“He’s definitely got the edge over Norris when it comes to race craft. Norris seems to have a fraction of an edge over pace, but... Piastri is getting the job done.

“He’s getting moves done. He’s not making mistakes. And he’s getting victories.”

McLaren is leaving Miami having pulled off 1-2 finishes in the Grand Prix and in Sunday’s sprint race — something no team had previously achieved.

Piastri said: “There was a bit of argy bargy at Turn 1 and that helped me a little bit and I was aware enough to avoid Max coming through at Turn 1 and from then onwards I knew I had a pace advantage and clearly the car was unbelievable today.”

The day was much uglier for fellow Aussie Jack Doohan, whose race was over before he exited the first turn after making contact with Kiwi Liam Lawson.

Lap one drama as Doohan crashes out, Norris forced wide

7.20am - McLarens rocket away from the field, Norris closes

Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris were more than 30 seconds ahead of the rest of the field with five laps remaining.

The Aussie had a comfortable gap to his teammate, but Norris was storming home towards the chequered flag, cutting the margin to just three seconds on Lap 51.

Mercedes driver George Russell earlier found a way past Max Verstappen during the pit stops to take P3 in the race.

The main drama in the race is happening in the Ferrari garage with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc fighting for seventh and eighth.

There was nobody anywhere near Oscar Piastri. AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell.
There was nobody anywhere near Oscar Piastri. AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell.

6.30am - Verstappen fumes after Oscar pulls off move

Max Verstappen missed the turn. Photo: Fox Sports.
Max Verstappen missed the turn. Photo: Fox Sports.

Oscar Piastri has taken the lead of the race on Lap 14 after finally finding a way to get past Max Verstappen.

After nibbling away at the back of the Red Bull for more than five laps, Piastri got it done at the end of Turn 1 when the world champ locked up and missed the apex completely.

Verstappen was not happy with his grip.

“F***ing brakes man. Useless,” he said on team radio.

Verstappen and Norris then tussled for position in the following laps with Norris facing a stewards investigation for leaving the track.

6am - Crazy scenes at Turn 1, Aussie crashes out

Lando Norris has been forced wide and has been jumped by Oscar Piastri and Kimi Antonelli at Turn 1.

There was huge drama in the opening lap with Norris complaining Max Verstappen had forced him off the track. Norris was only able to regain track position down in P4.

Norris was fuming at Verstappen’s move.

“He [Verstappen] forced me off mate,” Norris said.

“What am I meant to do? Just drive into the wall or something?”

F1 guru Martin Brundle also said Verstappen had given Norris a “shove off”.

Meanwhile, it was a wretched start for Aussie Jack Doohan, who crashed out after making contact with Liam Lawson at the opening turn.

Piastri showed his class by making a move to get passed Antonelli up into P2 and then started to chase Verstappen.

Liam Lawson and Jack Doohan. Photo: X.
Liam Lawson and Jack Doohan. Photo: X.
Max Verstappen held the race lead. Photo by Hector Vivas / GETTY IMAGES.
Max Verstappen held the race lead. Photo by Hector Vivas / GETTY IMAGES.
Liam Lawson is seen on the side of the track after contact with Alpine's Jack Doohan. Photo by Chandan Khanna / AFP.
Liam Lawson is seen on the side of the track after contact with Alpine's Jack Doohan. Photo by Chandan Khanna / AFP.

Verstappen secures pole

Verstappen’s aggressive approach in the first sector of his lap paid off on Sunday and gives him a chance for a third win in four years at Miami.

“It has been a great qualifying. We improved the car a tiny amount too. Q1, Q2, Q3 — just improving every run, trying to find the limit. It worked out well. I’m very happy to be on pole,” said the Dutchman.

“Race pace, I don’t know, we have to wait and see with the weather, to be honest the colder the better. No one has really done any long running with the sprint race here.”

Antonelli, who became the youngest driver to grab pole in any F1 race after he grabbed the top position for the sprint race, yet again showed his speed and potential.

Although he was unable to make the most of his position in the sprint, finishing seventh, he is clearly in confident mood.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was a disappointing eighth, having never contended for the front row, and he could not disguise his emotions.

“The feeling is not great. But it’s the way it is. It’s just frustrating because when you do your best and the best is P8, with a Ferrari it hurts and the two Williams in front of us, I didn’t do any mistakes... we are just not fast enough,” he said.

Originally published as Oscar Piastri goes viral after epic Miami F1 Grand Prix

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/motorsport/formula-one/f1-miami-grand-prix-live-updates-as-oscar-piastri-chases-fourth-win/news-story/f91546f42505c43627a537d8f476d175