Oscar Piastri’s late charge secures Miami GP podium as McLaren shows pace

Key facts

• Oscar Piastri finished third at the Miami Grand Prix, his second consecutive podium.
• Kimi Antonelli won the race from pole, becoming the first driver to convert his first three poles into victories.
• Antonelli leads the championship by 20 points after four rounds.
• Charles Leclerc received a 20-second penalty for leaving the track without justification, dropping from sixth to eighth.
• Max Verstappen received a five-second penalty for crossing the pit exit line, remaining fifth.
• McLaren delivered its first major upgrade package in Miami, producing a dominant Sprint performance.

A dramatic late overtake and a final-lap spin

Oscar Piastri executed a decisive pass on Charles Leclerc at the end of the penultimate lap to claim third place at the Miami Grand Prix. Moments later, Leclerc spun out of Turn 3 on the final lap, all but guaranteeing Piastri’s podium finish. The McLaren driver, who started seventh on the grid, had pitted late and maximised his tyre life to chase down George Russell and Leclerc in the closing stages.

Antonelli’s historic hat-trick and Norris’s frustration

Teenage Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli converted his third consecutive pole into victory, a feat never before achieved in Formula 1. The 19-year-old championship leader overcame a slow start and a mid-race undercut to pass Lando Norris, extending his title lead to 20 points. Norris, who won Saturday’s sprint, voiced disappointment over McLaren’s pit strategy, asking over the radio: “How did we not win this? We should have won, guys.”

Piastri’s weekend of contrasts: strong sprint, messy qualifying

Piastri qualified third for the Sprint and finished second behind Norris, but his Grand Prix qualifying was “random” and “messy”, leaving him seventh on the grid. He admitted the team’s impression after qualifying was that rivals had maximised their packages more effectively. Despite the setback, Piastri made a strong start, moving from seventh to fourth on the opening lap before being overtaken by George Russell.

McLaren’s upgrade delivers double podium and renewed optimism

McLaren brought its first major upgrade package to Miami, producing a dominant Sprint performance and its first double podium of the season. Piastri noted the team was “a step closer in performance” and that the pace felt “more encouraging” in the race. He added: “We showed that if we get track position, we can hang on to things.” The result follows a close-but-not-quite performance in Japan.

Penalties reshape the final standings

Hours after the race, stewards handed Charles Leclerc a 20-second time penalty for leaving the track on several occasions “without a justifiable reason” on the final lap, demoting him from sixth to eighth. Max Verstappen received a five-second penalty for crossing the pit exit line but remained fifth. The penalties compounded Leclerc’s disappointment after dropping from a podium position to sixth on the final lap.

Piastri eyes further gains as season progresses

Piastri expressed excitement about McLaren’s trajectory, saying: “Hopefully in Canada, we can take a step forward again. I’m excited for the future.” The Australian driver, who now has two podiums in a row, acknowledged the weekend was “not the most straightforward” but praised the team’s upgrades and his own late-race pace. With Antonelli’s dominance and McLaren’s resurgence, the championship battle is taking shape.

The bottom line

• Oscar Piastri’s third place in Miami marks his second consecutive podium, underscoring McLaren’s improved form.
• Kimi Antonelli’s historic hat-trick of pole-to-win conversions cements his status as championship leader by 20 points.
• McLaren’s first major upgrade package delivered a Sprint win and a double podium, signalling a step forward in performance.
• Charles Leclerc’s final-lap spin and subsequent penalty dropped him from a podium contender to eighth place.
• Piastri remains optimistic about future upgrades, targeting further gains at the Canadian Grand Prix.