Kimi Antonelli managed to edge out Lando Norris in a gripping Miami Grand Prix, securing his third straight victory and pushing his world championship advantage to a comfortable 20 points. The race unfolded much like his previous two wins: Antonelli could not maintain the lead from the front of the grid, slipping back to third place in the opening laps. However, the young Mercedes driver turned the tables during the sole pit‑stop window, executing a flawless undercut that saw him pass Norris wheel‑to‑wheel as they exited the pit lane. From that moment on, Antonelli defended his position against the McLaren contender, holding off a determined Norris in a tense final stint.
At just 19 years old, Antonelli joined an exclusive club of drivers who have opened their Formula 1 careers with three consecutive Grand Prix victories. The only other racers to achieve that feat are former world champions Damon Hill and Mika Häkkinen, underscoring how quickly the Italian prodigy is establishing himself among the sport's elite.
While Antonelli celebrated his triumph, his teammate George Russell endured a more modest weekend. Russell was never able to match the Italian's blistering pace, but he salvaged a respectable fourth‑place finish by overtaking Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in the chaotic closing laps. This result widened the points gap between the Mercedes duo from seven to twenty points, reinforcing the team’s dominance early in the season.
After the race, Antonelli praised his team’s strategy and his own performance: "The pace was strong. I stayed close, the team executed a brilliant strategy, and the undercut worked perfectly. It wasn’t easy, but we brought it home." He added, "This is just the beginning. The season is long, and we’re working incredibly hard.
Without the team and my family’s support, I wouldn’t be here. I’ll enjoy this win and then get back to work." The top ten finishers were as follows: 1) Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), 2) Lando Norris (McLaren), 3) Oscar Piastri (McLaren), 4) George Russell (Mercedes), 5) Max Verstappen (Red Bull), 6) Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), 7) Franco Colapinto (Alpine), 8) Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), 9) Carlos Sainz (Williams), 10) Alex Albon (Williams).
Piastri also made a decisive move on the penultimate lap, passing Leclerc to secure a double podium for McLaren. The team’s recent upgrade package had clearly paid off, delivering a strong showing after Norris led a McLaren one‑two in the preceding Sprint race.
Verstappen, who benefitted from a substantial Red Bull upgrade, was forced to settle for fifth after an unusual spin at the start dropped him from his second‑grid position. He elected to pit under an early safety‑car period, leaving him on older hard tyres that he struggled to defend in the final stages.
Leclerc, who had taken the lead at the beginning, suffered a slow pit stop and later spun into the barriers while attempting to chase Piastri. The impact damaged his car, allowing both Russell and Verstappen to pass him in the closing corners.
Leclerc’s misfortune continued when he received a 20‑second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage while trying to regain control after a late‑race incident. Verstappen, meanwhile, was handed a five‑second penalty for crossing the white line at the pit‑exit, though the sanction did not alter his finishing position. These penalties promoted Lewis Hamilton to sixth place, highlighting how quickly fortunes can shift in Formula 1. Mercedes’ ability to claim four consecutive victories, despite postponing the deployment of their own major upgrade until the Canadian Grand Prix, will be viewed as a significant achievement for the Silver Arrows.
The early‑season success should bolster their confidence heading into the next round in Montreal, where they will test a new aerodynamic package. Alpine’s Franco Colapinto earned seventh place after his teammate Pierre Gasly was involved in a spectacular flip caused by an early collision with Liam Lawson.
The incident, coupled with Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar crashing out almost simultaneously, prompted a safety‑car deployment that shuffled the order further. Williams drivers Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon completed the points‑scoring positions, reflecting the team’s progress after they managed to reduce the overall weight of their chassis. The race took place under the looming threat of rain, prompting organizers to move the start time three hours earlier than originally planned.
The adjustment proved wise, as it helped avoid the forecasted thunderstorms that could have disrupted the event. A recent pause in the season—caused by the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian rounds due to regional conflict—meant Antonelli had a five‑week break between his championship‑winning victory in Japan and this Miami triumph. The hiatus gave commentators ample time to debate whether the teenage driver could sustain a title challenge, with even team principal Toto Wolff cautioning against getting ahead of himself.
Antonelli’s Sprint race performance had been less than flawless; a five‑second penalty for exceeding track‑limit violations handed two extra points to Russell. Nevertheless, Antonelli responded emphatically in the main event, delivering a pole‑position lap that demonstrated his raw speed. At the start, however, he again slipped off the line, locking his brakes and running wide at the first corner—an error that allowed competitors to close the gap.
The pivotal moment arrived on lap 26 when Mercedes called Antonelli into the pits, where he emerged just under two seconds behind Norris. McLaren responded a lap later, but Antonelli’s swift out‑lap and slightly quicker stop left the two drivers side‑by‑side as they rejoined the track. Leveraging the extra boost from his fresh tyres, Antonelli nudged ahead and began to build a lead. Norris attempted to apply pressure, and both drivers received warnings for track‑limit infringements, but Antonelli’s pace proved superior, and he crossed the finish line three seconds ahead of his rival.
Norris reflected on the outcome: "We got undercut – there’s no excuse for that. We should have boxed first. Kimi did a great job. Hats off to Mercedes and Kimi, they drove an excellent race.
I’m gutted to miss out on a win in Miami – I think it was possible today, but we didn’t have the pace to get past him in the end, so we take it on the chin. Still, it’s a positive weekend overall." Looking ahead, the Formula 1 calendar moves to Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix, featuring another Sprint weekend.
Fans can watch the action live on Sky Sports F1 from May 22‑24, with streaming options available through NOW without a contract. The Miami Grand Prix will be remembered as a milestone in Antonelli’s burgeoning career, a race where strategic brilliance, youthful daring, and a touch of drama combined to cement his status as a serious championship contender.