Australian Piastri ended up having to repel a late challenge from Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc to finish runner-up in the 19-lap race on Saturday, but he finished 3.766 seconds behind his dominant English stablemate.
"Yes, I'm mostly satisfied," shrugged Piastri, who had moved up from third on the grid to pick up seven valuable points as McLaren ended Mercedes' early winning run in the first race back since the F1 season had an enforced break caused by the Middle East conflict.
"Obviously, I've a little bit to find to try and stay with Lando, but overall it's been a good morning before qualifying later today."
Norris couldn't hide his delight at recovering that victorious 2025 feeling after he picked up eight points for the win, controlling the race with seemingly little trouble from pole as Mercedes were knocked off the podium for the first time in 2026.
"It was a good race. Nice to be back on the top step, even if it's a sprint. It's been a good day for us, a massive job from the team to bring the upgrades," said the champion.
"It was hot out there, and sweaty. A good start to the weekend and now we have to do it all over again," he added, suggesting the team wouldn't be needing too many changes to his set-up before qualifying for Sunday's Grand Prix.
It was a far cry from F1 life before the month-long break as Mercedes had won all three races as well as the sprint in China.
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli started in second, but didn't get away well and lost positions to Piastri and Leclerc before eventually finishing sixth.
Teammate George Russell was only fourth ahead of a rejuvenated Max Verstappen, in his Red Bull.
Lewis Hamilton, in the second Ferrari, and Alpine's Pierre Gasly completed the top eight, who all scored points.
After the break following the Japanese GP on March 29, with the races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia cancelled, Antonelli's lead had been reduced with the Italian teen now on 75 points, Russell 68, Leclerc 55, Hamilton 43, Norris 33 and Piastri 28.
Piastri, who had begun the season calamitously by failing to get to the start in the first two races, has now enjoyed two second place finishes in a row in Japan's main race and the Miami sprint.
