Kimi Antonelli’s Miami Grand Prix victory on Sunday marked his third consecutive win from pole position, cementing his status as the most dominant force in Formula 1 right now. The Mercedes driver crossed the finish line ahead of world champion Lando Norris in second and Oscar Piastri in third, but the final laps produced a flurry of drama behind him that reshuffled the order in remarkable fashion. For Antonelli, though, the result was never seriously in doubt.
How Antonelli controlled the Miami Grand Prix
The Italian drove a measured and composed race throughout. He built a lead over Norris that the McLaren driver and his team could not find a way to close. By the closing stages, Antonelli sat 1.8 seconds clear of Norris, and McLaren had run out of strategic options to challenge him. The gap was not enormous, but it was consistent and controlled a sign of a driver managing the race exactly as he needed to.
Notably, the race itself was brought forward by three hours due to a storm threat in the Miami area, compressing the build-up and adding an unusual edge to the event before a single lap had been completed. That disruption did nothing to unsettle Antonelli, who delivered one of the cleanest drives of his young career.
The chaos that unfolded behind him
While Antonelli cruised to the checkered flag waved by tennis legend Rafael Nadal the battle for the remaining podium places produced one of the most eventful final laps of the season so far.
Charles Leclerc had worked his way into third place and appeared set for a strong Ferrari result. However, on the final lap, Oscar Piastri swept past the Monegasque driver at Turn 17 to claim the final podium position. Moments later, Leclerc spun. He avoided a full retirement but damaged his left rear tyre in the process, limping home to finish sixth after losing further positions to both George Russell and Max Verstappen.
Verstappen himself had endured a difficult afternoon from the very start. The four-time world champion spun on the opening lap, immediately complicating his race strategy. He spent much of the afternoon lacking the pace to challenge the leading group and found himself in fifth at one stage before the late shuffle of positions. Russell, meanwhile, had a brief moment of contact with Verstappen near the end but held on to finish fifth.
Retirements that shaped the race
Four drivers failed to see the checkered flag. Isack Hadjar, Pierre Gasly, Liam Lawson, and Nico Hulkenberg all retired during the race, reducing the field and opening up points opportunities for those who survived the full distance. Franco Colapinto brought his car home in eighth place, a result that drew a strong response from the Argentine fans in attendance. Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz rounded out the top ten for Williams, adding valuable points to that team’s tally.
What the result means for the championship
Antonelli’s third straight win from pole raises an obvious question about the championship picture. With Mercedes showing consistent pace and Antonelli delivering clean, dominant performances, the pressure on Norris and McLaren is building. The world champion finished second again, which keeps him in the title conversation, but the gap between the two drivers in recent form is hard to ignore.
Whether this run represents a sustained shift in the competitive order or a temporary advantage for Mercedes remains to be seen. What is clear is that Antonelli is driving with a maturity and confidence that few predicted at this stage of his career. The 2026 Formula 1 season is shaping up to be one worth watching very closely.
Source: BBC Sport
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