Antonelli wins third straight F1 race in Miami, extends championship lead

Key facts

• Kimi Antonelli won the 2026 Miami Grand Prix, his third consecutive victory.
• Antonelli beat reigning world champion Lando Norris by 3.2 seconds.
• Antonelli became the first driver to take pole in three consecutive races since Ayrton Senna.
• Charles Leclerc received a 20-second penalty after the race.
• Max Verstappen spun on the first lap but finished fifth.
• The next race is the Canadian Grand Prix on May 24.

A decisive pit-stop gambit

Kimi Antonelli claimed his third straight Formula 1 victory at the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday, overtaking Lando Norris during the pit-stop sequence and pulling away to win by 3.2 seconds. The 19-year-old Mercedes driver extended his winning streak to three, following triumphs at the Chinese Grand Prix and Japanese Grand Prix in March. The race turned on lap 30 when Antonelli emerged from his final pit stop ahead of Norris, who had led earlier. From there, Antonelli controlled the pace, fending off Norris's challenges to secure the win. Norris, the reigning world champion, finished second, with Oscar Piastri third.

Antonelli joins elite company

With his pole position on Saturday, Antonelli became the first driver to take pole in three consecutive races since Ayrton Senna. The win also made him the third driver in F1 history to win three straight races at such a young age, though the exact list was not specified. Antonelli now leads the World Drivers' Championship, extending his status as the youngest championship leader in F1 history. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff praised Antonelli's performance, calling the Miami race his 'best race so far.' Wolff also defended the 2026 regulations, saying critics 'should hide' after what he termed a 'spectacular' grand prix.

Chaos and penalties behind the leader

The race featured several incidents. Charles Leclerc received a 20-second penalty after the race, with stewards declining leniency. The exact infraction was not detailed, but it cost Leclerc two places on the final lap after a slow pit stop. Max Verstappen spun 360 degrees on the first lap, later joking that 'if F1 doesn't work out I can always go rally.' He finished fifth, though he was under investigation for crossing the pit lane exit line after his stop. Isack Hadjar crashed out on lap 5, calling it a 'very silly mistake.' Lewis Hamilton described his own race as 'tough,' finishing in 'no man's land.'

McLaren and Mercedes strategies dissected

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said 'execution and optimisation' cost his team the win, implying that Norris could have prevailed with better pit-stop timing. George Russell, who finished fourth, noted that trying Kimi Antonelli's Mercedes car setup 'made a bigger impact than I thought,' suggesting Mercedes had found a performance edge. Toto Wolff labeled Antonelli's drive his 'best race so far,' while a former driver speculated that Antonelli could 'have George Russell mentally covered' if he wins in Canada. The next race is the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal on May 24.

Wider implications for the championship

Antonelli's three-race winning streak has reshaped the championship battle. Norris, despite his runner-up finish, lost ground in the standings. Verstappen's spin and fifth-place finish kept him from capitalizing on any mistakes by the leaders. Leclerc's penalty dropped him further back. The constructors' championship also saw shifts, with Mercedes closing the gap to McLaren. The Miami race was the first after a month-long break, and the performance of the 2026 regulations drew praise from Wolff, who said critics should 'hide' after the 'spectacular' event.

What lies ahead in Montreal

The F1 circus now heads to Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix on May 24. Antonelli will aim for a fourth straight win, a feat that would further cement his historic run. Norris and McLaren will seek to rebound, while Verstappen and Red Bull will look to solve their recent struggles. The Miami race also sparked debate about the return of V8 engines, as whispers of a rule change resurfaced. For now, Antonelli's dominance is the story, and the teenager shows no signs of slowing down.

The bottom line

• Kimi Antonelli won his third straight F1 race, beating Lando Norris by 3.2 seconds in Miami.
• Antonelli became the first driver to take pole in three consecutive races since Ayrton Senna.
• Charles Leclerc received a 20-second penalty, while Max Verstappen spun on lap 1 but finished fifth.
• Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff called Antonelli's performance his 'best race so far.'
• McLaren's Andrea Stella cited 'execution and optimisation' as reasons for losing the win.
• The next race is the Canadian Grand Prix on May 24, where Antonelli can extend his streak.