Antonelli Wins Third Straight Grand Prix, Extends Historic Championship Lead in Miami

Key facts

• Kimi Antonelli won the 2026 Miami Grand Prix, his third straight victory after wins in China and Japan.
• Antonelli, aged 19, is the youngest leader of the World Drivers' Championship in F1 history.
• He beat reigning champion Lando Norris by 3.2 seconds at the finish line.
• Max Verstappen spun at Turn 1 on the opening lap, dropping to 10th, and finished sixth.
• Charles Leclerc led early but spun on the final lap, finishing sixth after contact with the wall.
• Pierre Gasly was involved in a barrel-roll crash after contact with Liam Lawson; both retired.
• Oscar Piastri passed Leclerc on the penultimate lap to take third place.
• The race started three hours early to avoid forecast thunderstorms; rain held off.

A Chaotic Start Sets the Stage for a Historic Win

The 2026 Miami Grand Prix began in chaos as polesitter Kimi Antonelli locked up and ran wide at Turn 1, allowing Charles Leclerc to seize the lead. Behind them, Max Verstappen spun off the exit of the corner, dropping to 10th and narrowly avoiding being collected by the chasing pack. The incident reshuffled the order, with McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri moving into third and fourth. Within four laps, Antonelli had fought back, passing Leclerc for the lead on lap 4, only for Leclerc to retake the position on the following lap. Norris also followed the Ferrari driver through into second, setting up a three-way battle at the front. The race was neutralized on lap 5 after two separate incidents: Pierre Gasly's Alpine was flipped into a barrel roll after contact with Liam Lawson's Racing Bulls at Turn 17, and Isack Hadjar crashed at the chicane, shearing off his front-left suspension.

Antonelli's Strategic Mastery Under the Threat of Rain

The race was scheduled three hours earlier than planned as organizers sought a window to complete the 57 laps before forecast thunderstorms. Despite the looming threat, the race remained dry, with most drivers starting on medium tyres. After the safety car period, Norris controlled the restart, but Antonelli's pit strategy proved decisive. Antonelli regained the lead during the pit sequence, with Norris slotting into second. An early stop and a long stint on hard tyres left Verstappen struggling in the latter stages; he fell backwards as Leclerc and Piastri both overtook him. On the penultimate lap, Piastri executed a move on Leclerc to claim the final podium spot, while Leclerc spun and hit the wall, dropping to sixth.

A Historic Streak for the 19-Year-Old Italian

Antonelli's victory marked his third consecutive win, following triumphs at the Chinese Grand Prix and Japanese Grand Prix in March. He becomes the first driver in Formula 1 history to take both his first three pole positions and three race victories in consecutive events. At 19, he now leads the World Drivers' Championship, extending his record as the youngest championship leader ever. Antonelli had secured pole position on Saturday ahead of Verstappen, and he crossed the finish line 3.2 seconds ahead of Norris. The final top six were Antonelli, Norris, Piastri, George Russell, Verstappen, and Leclerc, though Verstappen remained under investigation for crossing the pit lane exit line after his pit stop.

Crash and Consequences: Gasly and Hadjar Retire

The race saw two notable retirements. Pierre Gasly's Alpine was pitched into a low-speed barrel roll after being clipped by Liam Lawson at the Turn 17 hairpin. Gasly ended up halfway up the barrier but escaped unhurt. Lawson also retired with terminal damage. Earlier, Isack Hadjar, who had started from the pit lane due to a technical breach, made an unforced error at Turn 14, tagging the inside wall and shearing off his front-left suspension, sending his car into the barriers at low speed.

McLaren's Late Surge and Ferrari's Heartbreak

Oscar Piastri's late pass on Charles Leclerc secured McLaren's second podium of the season. Leclerc, who had led early, saw his race unravel on the final lap when he spun and made contact with the wall, dropping from third to sixth. George Russell inherited fourth, while Verstappen took fifth ahead of Leclerc. The result underscored McLaren's growing competitiveness and Ferrari's missed opportunity.

What's Next: Antonelli Eyes Fourth Win in Canada

The Formula 1 calendar now moves to the Canadian Grand Prix on May 24. Antonelli will aim to extend his historic winning streak to four races, a feat that would further cement his status as a championship contender. The young Italian's dominance has reshaped the title race, with reigning champion Norris now trailing in the standings. The series continues to draw global attention, with the Miami Grand Prix broadcast on AppleTV and F1 TV Pro.

The bottom line

• Kimi Antonelli won his third consecutive Grand Prix, a first in F1 history for a driver's first three poles and wins.
• Antonelli leads the drivers' championship at age 19, the youngest leader ever.
• The race featured a chaotic start, a barrel-roll crash, and a late spin that cost Charles Leclerc a podium.
• McLaren's Oscar Piastri finished third, while Max Verstappen recovered from a spin to take sixth.
• The next race is the Canadian Grand Prix on May 24, where Antonelli will seek a fourth straight win.