It was another grand prix to forget for seven-time world champion Sir Lewis Hamilton in Miami after finishing behind his new team-mate George Russell for the fourth time this season.
Hamilton struggled to make progress through the field at the Miami International Autodrome, after starting from sixth.
Russell on the other hand made superb progress towards the frontrunners despite having started from twelfth, following a poor qualifying on Saturday.
The former Williams driver did massively benefit however from the race’s late safety car, which was brought out after Lando Norris and Pierre Gasly collided on the exit of Turn 7.
This allowed Russell to pit for fresh medium tyres, having run deep into the race on the hards he started on.
The 24-year-old was at an immediate advantage compared to those around him, with the majority on heavily worn hards.
The British driver made light-work of both Valtteri Bottas and his 37-year-old team-mate, on his way to fifth-place.
Russell’s fifth-place finish means he continues his impressive start to the season having finished every race so far in the top five, despite the struggles Mercedes are facing.
These struggles appear to be getting the better of his more experienced team-mate, who arguably hasn’t been in the position he’s in now since 2009, when driving for McLaren.
Hamilton’s frustration was heard across the sport’s world feed moments after Norris’ and Gasly’s collision took place.
The Briton was asked on the radio whether he wanted to pit for a new set of tyres, and Hamilton replied with a frosty response.
The Mercedes driver questioned his team why he was being asked to make the decision, whilst it’s their job to do so.
After the race Hamilton was asked about this cagey interaction with his team.
“In that scenario, I have no clue where everyone is, so when the team say ‘it is your choice’, I don’t have the information to make the decision,” said Hamilton.
“That’s what your job is. Make the decision for me as you have all the details and I don’t. That’s what you rely on the guys for, but today they gave the decision to me and I didn’t understand it.
“When you are given that responsibility it feels like gambling and I don’t like that. It was just a bit unfortunate.
“George was on the best tyre to start with, and in hindsight maybe I could have started on the hard tyre. But he did a great job to recover from his starting position.
“He was fair and had fresh tyres so I was a bit of a sitting duck. I am waiting for a change in fortune, but until then I will keep working as hard as I can.”
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The result means Hamilton has only beaten Russell at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.
To make matters worse, Russell two places higher in the championship in fourth and twenty-three points ahead after five rounds.