Piastri: The Man To Beat In The Heat

Fresh off 3rd win, he's upbeat about sprint and race in Miami before European swing

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MIAMI - Formula One's high-octane show rolls into the Sunshine State this weekend for the sixth round of the season, the Miami Grand Prix, with McLaren's Oscar Piastri holding a slender lead in the drivers' championship.

The 24-year-old Australian arrives in Miami fresh off his third victory of the season in Saudi Arabia, where he outpaced Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and reigning champion Red Bull's Max Verstappen.

Piastri is on 99 points with teammate Lando Norris, who won at Miami last season, 10 points behind and Verstappen, who won the first two races around Hard Rock Stadium, on 87 points.

The consistency of McLaren's MCL39, coupled with Piastri's cool-headed approach, has made him the man to beat, but Miami's tight, twisty layout and scorching temperatures will be a tricky test.

The weekend also includes the second of six sprint races this season - the 100km dash offering eight points that could influence who heads to Emilia-Romagna in the lead.

For the first time in his F1 career, Piastri is now the hunted rather than the hunter but he says he is relishing the competition.