MIAMI GARDENS, Fla., May 3 (UPI) — Kimi Antonelli evaded cyclonic crashes and hunted corners in an asphalt assault, dominating Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix for his third consecutive win.
With the win, the Italian teen became the first driver in history to win each of his first three Grand Prix races from pole position. McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri placed second and third, respectively.
“This is just the beginning,” Antonelli said after the race. “The road is still long, but we are working so hard and the team is doing an incredible job.
“Without them, I wouldn’t be here.”
Organizers rescheduled the race to start three hours earlier than planned to avoid forecasted thunder storms. Rain poured onto the Hard Rock Stadium campus Sunday morning, but the track dried and the showers didn’t return.
Still, drivers remained anxious throughout the day because of the unpredictable weather.
The race, which marked the return of Formula 1 after a five-week hiatus caused by war-related cancellations of two races, got off to a chaotic start.
But Antonelli managed to avoid catastrophe via collisions as his silver, black and blue Mercedes massaged the 19-turn track, effortlessly darting ahead of his foes all the way to the finish line of the 57-lap race.
Antonelli’s Mercedes teammate, George Russell, placed fourth. Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen placed fifth. Charles Leclerc, who stalked Antonelli from his Ferrari for the majority of the race, spun out on the final lap and placed sixth. His teammate, Lewis Hamilton, followed. Franco Colapinto, Carlos Sainz and Alexander Albon rounded out the Top 10 finishers.
“It was a good race, a very special one,” Antonelli said. “It was not an easy one. It had a little bit of everything.”
With the win, Antonelli improved his lead atop the driver’s standings from seven points to 20 points ahead of Russell, who sits in second place.
Leclerc remains in third place. Norris jumped from fifth to fourth, swapping spots with Hamilton. Piastri, who failed to defend his crown in Miami Gardens, remains sixth. Verstappen climbed from ninth to seventh. Oliver Bearman slid from seventh to eighth. Gasly and Lawson, who both crashed Sunday, are the No. 9 and 10 drivers in the standings.
Soccer sensation Lionel Messi, comedian Jimmy Fallon and tennis icons Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams were among the dozens of celebrities in attendance at the Miami Grand Prix.
Anticipation quickly became reality for those stars, thousands of fans and the 22-car field, with drivers getting off to an aggressive start.
Teams strategized with different tire types, hoping to earn an advantage of their opponents. Leclrec beat Antonelli off the the starting line. Verstappen spun out on the exit of the first turn, but managed to save his car and remained in the race.
Antonelli led for 30 laps. He took the lead for the final time when he passed Verstappen on his 29th trek around the track. Norris held the lead for 15 laps. Leclerc led for 11 laps.
The 2026 Canadian Grand Prix is the next race on the Formula 1 schedule, which is scheduled for May 24 in Montreal.
About the Author
