Kimi Antonelli Secures Third Consecutive Win in Chaotic Miami Grand Prix
Mercedes teenager Kimi Antonelli continued his spectacular 2026 campaign by claiming his third consecutive victory at an action-packed Miami Grand Prix. The 19-year-old withstood intense strategic pressure from Sprint winner Lando Norris to take the chequered flag while Oscar Piastri capitalised on a final-lap mistake from Charles Leclerc to complete a double podium for McLaren.
Despite missing out on the extensive upgrade packages brought by their rivals this weekend Mercedes proved they still possess formidable race pace. Antonelli’s mature drive further cements his status at the front of the grid as the championship battle intensifies.
First-lap chaos and a Verstappen spin
PURE CHAOS AT THE START! 😱
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 3, 2026
Here's how the Miami Grand Prix start unfolded ⬇️#F1 #MiamiGP pic.twitter.com/LVdxET24Et
The drama began immediately as the lights went out under overcast Florida skies. Antonelli suffered a poor getaway from pole position and locked up his tyres heading into Turn 1. Alongside him Max Verstappen tangled with Leclerc and spun a full 360 degrees. Miraculously the Dutchman avoided contact with the oncoming pack and managed to keep his Red Bull running.
WHAT. A. SAVE.
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 3, 2026
Max Verstappen 🤯#F1 #MiamiGP pic.twitter.com/zhXKvs3DxQ
Leclerc emerged from the first-corner chaos with the race lead ahead of Norris and a recovering Antonelli. Further down the order Lewis Hamilton sustained significant downforce damage to his Ferrari after a collision with Alpine’s Franco Colapinto leaving the seven-time world champion fighting an uphill battle for the rest of the afternoon.
Safety Car interruption and strategic masterstrokes
The safety car was deployed on Lap 6 following two separate and severe accidents. Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar clipped the inside barrier broke his suspension and crashed heavily into the wall.
Hadjar OUT! ❌
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 3, 2026
He clips the kerb and heads straight to the wall ⬇️#F1 #MiamiGP pic.twitter.com/WszYjILIJb
Moments later Pierre Gasly‘s Alpine flipped upside down after colliding with Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson. Both drivers escaped unharmed but the crashes ended their races instantly with Lawson also forced to retire shortly after due to terminal damage.
Over goes Gasly's Alpine! 😱
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 3, 2026
Both Pierre and Liam Lawson were OK after this collision in Miami 👇#F1 #MiamiGP pic.twitter.com/8b4bfSaJLU
When racing resumed Norris, Antonelli and Leclerc briefly traded the lead as a threatened rain shower loomed. However the precipitation amounted to little more than a few light drops allowing the field to remain on slick tyres.
Mercedes ultimately won the race in the pit lane. By bringing Antonelli in early for his mandatory switch to hard tyres they successfully executed an undercut. When Norris pitted a lap later he emerged just behind the Mercedes.
Kimi ⚔️ Max
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 3, 2026
How Antonelli took the lead from Verstappen into Turn 11 😮💨👇#F1 #MiamiGP pic.twitter.com/AH2wA1W5cy
Final lap heartbreak for Ferrari
In the closing stages Kimi Antonelli expertly managed his pace in clean air to keep Norris at bay crossing the line 3.2 seconds clear of the British driver.
Behind the leading duo a fierce battle for the final podium spot unfolded. Verstappen mounted a superb recovery drive on heavily worn tyres to hold off the chasing pack for much of the stint. However he was eventually swallowed up by a charging Piastri and a frustrated George Russell who was nursing front wing damage.
Heartbreak struck Ferrari on the very last lap. Leclerc who had just surrendered third place to Piastri spun on his own and clipped the wall. The Monegasque driver limped across the line with a damaged car dropping to sixth place as Russell and Verstappen snatched fourth and fifth respectively.
A WILD RIDE for Charles Leclerc! 😱🔄#F1 #MiamiGP pic.twitter.com/6LvWjJGzpb
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 3, 2026
Hamilton brought his hobbled Ferrari home in seventh ahead of Colapinto while Carlos Sainz and Alexander Albon secured a vital double points finish for an improving Williams team.
Miami Grand Prix Leaderboard
| Pos | Driver | Team | Gap | Pit |
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | Leader | 1 |
| 2 | Lando Norris | McLaren | +3.264 | 1 |
| 3 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +27.092 | 1 |
| 4 | George Russell | Mercedes | +43.051 | 1 |
| 5 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | +43.949 | 1 |
| 6 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +44.245 | 1 |
| 7 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | +53.753 | 1 |
| 8 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | +61.871 | 1 |
| 9 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | +82.072 | 1 |
| 10 | Alexander Albon | Williams | +90.972 | 1 |
| 11 | Oliver Bearman | Haas F1 Team | 1 L | 1 |
| 12 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi | 1 L | 1 |
| 13 | Esteban Ocon | Haas F1 Team | 1 L | 1 |
| 14 | Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls | 1 L | 1 |
| 15 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1 L | 1 |
| 16 | Sergio Perez | Cadillac | 1 L | 1 |
| 17 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1 L | 2 |
| 18 | Valtteri Bottas | Cadillac | 2 L | 3 |
| 19 | Nico Hulkenberg | Audi | DNF | 2 |
| 20 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | DNF | 1 |
| 21 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | DNF | – |
| 22 | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull Racing | DNF | – |
Although the race has ended, the FIA are still investigating some infringements by drivers such as Verstappen and Russell. The results of the investigation might potentially impact the final positions and points scored by drivers.
