Kimi Antonelli managed to outpace Lando Norris in a gripping Miami Grand Prix, securing his third straight victory and widening his lead in the drivers' championship to a comfortable 20 points. The 19‑year‑old Italian, driving for Mercedes, once again demonstrated his talent by turning a challenging race into a masterclass of strategy and perseverance. The race began with Antonelli on pole, yet, as had happened in his previous two wins, he slipped off the front of the pack early and fell to third place. Undeterred, he and his team devised a bold undercut during the sole pit‑stop window.
By pitting just before Norris, Antonelli emerged ahead of the McLaren driver as they exited the pit lane side‑by‑side, and he never looked back. The final laps turned into a tense duel, but Antonelli’s pace proved superior, allowing him to cross the finish line three seconds ahead of his nearest rival. This triumph places Antonelli among an elite trio of drivers who have opened their Formula 1 careers with three consecutive Grand Prix victories. The only other racers to achieve this feat are former world champions Damon Hill and Mika Häkkinen, underscoring the magnitude of Antonelli’s early success.
While Antonelli celebrated, his teammate George Russell endured a more modest weekend. Unable to match the Italian’s blistering speed, Russell nevertheless salvaged a solid fourth‑place finish by navigating through a chaotic closing stage that saw him overtake Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc. Russell’s result expanded the points gap between the two Mercedes drivers from seven to twenty, solidifying the team’s dominance in the early season standings.
After the race, Antonelli praised his crew and the strategy that had delivered the win. “The pace was strong, and I stayed close to the leaders. The team executed a massive undercut and we managed to bring it home, even though it wasn’t easy,” he said. He added, “This is just the beginning.
The season is long, and we’re working incredibly hard. Without the team’s support and my family’s encouragement, I wouldn’t be here. I’ll enjoy this victory and then get back to work.” The finishing order reflected a strong performance from McLaren as well. Oscar Piastri, also driving for the British outfit, passed Leclerc on the penultimate lap to secure second place, completing a double‑podium for the team.
The McLaren drivers had already shown promise in the Sprint race on Saturday, where Norris led a one‑two finish, benefitting from a major aerodynamic upgrade that boosted the car’s competitiveness. Max Verstappen, who had enjoyed a surge of speed from Red Bull’s latest upgrade, was forced to settle for fifth after an uncharacteristic spin at the start dropped him from his second‑grid position. He later pitted under an early safety‑car period and struggled to preserve his aging hard tyres, ultimately finishing just behind the Mercedes pair.
A five‑second penalty for crossing the pit‑exit line did not affect his final standing. Charles Leclerc’s race unfolded dramatically.
After seizing the lead at the start, a sluggish pit stop cost him valuable time. Attempting to recover, he spun into the barriers while battling Piastri, damaging his car and allowing both Russell and Verstappen to pass in the final corners.
A subsequent 20‑second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage demoted him to eighth place. Lewis Hamilton, who had started further back, was promoted to sixth after Leclerc’s penalty. The Italian team’s upgrade package, which had raised hopes, failed to deliver the expected performance boost, leaving Hamilton to capitalize on the misfortunes of others.
Mercedes’ ability to claim four consecutive victories, despite postponing the introduction of their own major upgrade until the Canadian Grand Prix, will be regarded as a significant achievement for the Silver Arrows. The team’s confidence heading into the Montreal round is now bolstered by a clear demonstration of pace and strategic acumen.
Further down the order, Franco Colapinto earned seventh for Alpine after teammate Pierre Gasly was involved in an early collision with Liam Lawson that saw Gasly flip over. Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar also crashed at a similar moment, prompting a safety‑car deployment. Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon rounded out the points‑scoring positions, reflecting a notable improvement from the Williams squad, which has benefited from recent weight‑reduction efforts.
The race took place under the looming threat of rain, prompting organizers to move the start time three hours earlier than originally planned. This pre‑emptive shift proved successful, as the event avoided the forecasted thunderstorms that had threatened the schedule.
The season had experienced a brief hiatus after the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian rounds were cancelled due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. This pause forced Antonelli to endure a five‑week gap between races after he first seized the championship lead with a victory in Japan. The extended break gave commentators ample time to debate whether the teenage prodigy could sustain his title challenge, with even Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff urging caution in projecting his long‑term prospects. Antonelli’s Sprint race performance had been marred by a five‑second penalty for repeatedly exceeding track limits, which handed his teammate Russell two extra points.
Nevertheless, he rebounded spectacularly with a pole‑position lap for the main race, only to slip off the line at the start, lock up, and run wide at the first corner. He quickly recovered, benefiting from Verstappen’s spin, and entered a three‑way battle with Norris and Leclerc after the safety‑car period. The pivotal moment arrived on lap 26 when Mercedes called Antonelli into the pits, having trailed Norris by just under two seconds.
A swift pit stop and a strong out‑lap allowed Antonelli to exit the pit lane almost side‑by‑side with Norris, who pitted a lap later. The marginally faster stop gave Antonelli the lead, which he defended despite Norris’s attempts to pressure him and both drivers receiving warnings for track‑limit violations. Norris reflected on the outcome, saying, “We just got undercut – no excuses other than that.
We should have boxed first. Kimi did a good job. Hats off to Mercedes and Kimi, they drove a great 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 a positive weekend overall.” Looking ahead, the Formula 1 calendar moves to Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix, which will also feature a Sprint weekend.
Fans can watch the live action on Sky Sports F1 from May 22‑24, with streaming options available through NOW without a contract, offering the flexibility to cancel at any time.