Kimi Antonelli strengthened his early-season title charge with a composed victory in the Miami Grand Prix, resisting sustained pressure from reigning World Champion Lando Norris to claim his third consecutive win of the 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship.
Starting from pole at the Miami International Autodrome, Antonelli recovered from a slow start and early drama to beat Norris to the flag, with Oscar Piastri completing the podium for McLaren after a late spin cost Charles Leclerc third place.
The 57-lap race began three hours earlier than originally scheduled as organisers sought to avoid forecast rain and thunderstorms and when the lights went out at the start, Antonelli’s sluggish getaway immediately put him under pressure from Max Verstappen and Leclerc into Turn 1. The Mercedes driver locked up and ran wide, while Leclerc took a measured line through the corner to seize the lead. Verstappen spun on exit and, despite avoiding contact with the pack as he recovered, dropped to 10th. Norris and Piastri moved into third and fourth, ahead of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, who survived contact with Franco Colapinto.
Antonelli reclaimed the lead from Leclerc on lap four, but the Ferrari driver fought back one lap later, Norris following him through into second. Moments later, the Safety Car was deployed for two separate incidents. Pierre Gasly was launched into a low-speed roll after contact with Liam Lawson at Turn 17. Gasly escaped unharmed, while Lawson retired. Isack Hadjar also crashed at the chicane after clipping the inside wall at Turn 14, damaging his suspension and sliding into the barriers.
Racing resumed on lap 12, and Norris quickly passed Leclerc for the lead, with Antonelli third. Verstappen, who had stopped for hard tyres under the Safety Car, initially fell to 16th but briefly inherited a net lead once the front-runners made their own stops near half distance. However, with no rain arriving and his tyres much older, he was soon passed by both Antonelli and Norris.
The race then settled into a tense duel between Antonelli and Norris. The McLaren appeared faster for periods of the second stint, but Norris was unable to make a decisive move in the turbulent air behind the Mercedes. Antonelli also had to manage downshift issues, but kept control to secure victory and extend his championship advantage over Russell to 24 points.
Behind them, Verstappen’s older tyres faded in the closing laps. Leclerc, Piastri and Russell all caught the Red Bull, with Leclerc eventually moving ahead before Piastri and Russell also found a way through. Leclerc looked set for third, only to spin on the final lap and brush the wall, allowing Piastri to take the final podium place, 27 seconds behind Antonelli.
Russell finished fourth, ahead of Verstappen and Leclerc, with Hamilton seventh. Colapinto took eighth after a strong drive for Alpine, while Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon completed the points for Williams in ninth and 10th.
2026 FIA Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix – Race
1 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 57 –
2 Lando Norris McLaren/Mercedes 57 3.264
3 Oscar Piastri McLaren/Mercedes 57 27.092
4 George Russell Mercedes 57 43.051
5 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Red Bull Ford 57 43.949
6 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 57 44.245
7 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 57 53.753
8 Franco Colapinto Alpine/Mercedes 57 –
9 Carlos Sainz Williams/Mercedes 57 –
10 Alexander Albon Williams/Mercedes 57 –
11 Oliver Bearman Haas/Ferrari 56 – 1 lap
12 Gabriel Bortoleto Audi 56 – 1 lap
13 Esteban Ocon Haas/Ferrari 56 – 1 lap
14 Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls/Red Bull Ford 56 – 1 lap
15 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin/Honda 56 – 1 lap
16 Sergio Pérez Cadillac/Ferrari 56 – 1 lap
17 Lance Stroll Aston Martin/Honda 56 – 1 lap
18 Valtteri Bottas Cadillac/Ferrari 55 – 2 laps
Nico Hülkenberg Audi 7 – Retirement
Liam Lawson Racing Bulls/Red Bull Ford 6 – Retirement
Pierre Gasly Alpine/Mercedes 4 – Retirement
Isack Hadjar Red Bull/Red Bull Ford 4 – Retirement
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