While Max Verstappen was the winner once again, he was chased to the flag in a thrilling climax by Lando Norris providing definitive evidence that the world champion will not have it all his own way this season.
Formula One has been a tough sell these past two years, Verstappen romping to the championship all but unchallenged last season and the opening meetings of 2024 were more of the same - a Groundhog Day narrative that was becoming somewhat stale until McLaren and Norris arrived at the last round in Miami to breathe invigorating life into what was becoming a torpid season.
Norris won in Florida and here at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari he hounded Verstappen for the final eight laps of the race, hurling his McLaren at the track and his rival, with thrilling verve and tenacity in as exciting a fight F1 has seen since the new regulations were imposed in 2022. When the flag fell, Verstappen had a lead of just 0.7sec on Norris, a mere bagatelle between them as they hurtled across the line.
That Norris could not make the pass was irrelevant. Most of the race had been following the Punxsutawney Phil script, Verstappen comfortable from pole, with a six second lead, but when his tyres began to go off - and Norris's rubber came good, having eased them into the stint early on racing broke out with almost explosive exhilaration.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der May 20, 2024-Ausgabe von The Guardian.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der May 20, 2024-Ausgabe von The Guardian.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Butler challenges England to avoid run-rate obsession
Jos Buttler has urged his England players not to get sucked into a state of desperation this week regarding net run-rate as they try to resurrect their T20 World Cup defence from a perilous position.
McIlroy ready for 'boring' plan to end major drought
Rory McIlroy's latest chance at ending his decade-long chase of a fifth major title will launch under the brightest of spotlights after he was grouped with Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele for the opening two rounds of the US Open.
Protectionism slowing growth and ingraining poverty, says World Bank
A new era of protectionism is leading to slower global growth and hindering attempts to eradicate poverty, the World Bank has warned.
Tata says Welsh steelworks 'at risk' if £500m in aid delayed
Tata Steel has claimed that steelmaking in south Wales could be \"at significant risk\" if a £500m subsidy package is delayed, after the shadow business secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, called for it to restart talks with a potential Labour government.
Trafficked, beaten and raped The price of a rising cocaine habit
Maddalena Chiarenza never knows what state the children will be in when they arrive at her door.
UN: Gaza worst for 'violations' against children
More grave violations against children were committed in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel than anywhere else in the world last year, according to a UN report which is due to be published this week.
Shock and anger as head of France's moderate right signals electoral pact with Le Pen
The leader of France's mainstream right has said he would back an alliance with the far right in the snap legislative elections later this month, shocking opponents and party members and throwing French politics into further disarray.
'He's grown so fast' Man stranded in Turkey by Home Office finally reunited with family
On a scrap of grass behind a red-brick housing estate in Chester, Siyabonga Twala stops to get his breath back as his son Mason dribbles a football past him.
Exclusive London fundraiser rakes in millions for Trump
A fundraiser for Donald Trump in London yesterday, where his eldest son was set to be the star guest, had already clocked up £2m in donations before it began, according to organisers.
Over 100 licences for UK arms sales to Israel issued since 7 October
More than 100 arms export licences to Israel have been issued by the UK government between the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October and 31 May, according to government figures.