In the early hours of May 4, Beijing time, the 2026 Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix concluded with a dramatic finish. Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli became the first driver to win the Miami Grand Prix from pole position, securing his third consecutive pole and victory after wins in China and Japan. 
At just 19 years old, Antonelli joins F1 legends Damon Hill and Mika Hakkinen as the only three drivers in history to win their first three career victories over consecutive Grand Prix weekends. The young Italian continues to etch his name into the record books. 
McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri finished second and third respectively. George Russell and Max Verstappen capitalized on a late mistake by Charles Leclerc to take fourth and fifth, while Lewis Hamilton came home seventh. Franco Colapinto, Carlos Sainz, and Alexander Albon rounded out the top ten in eighth through tenth places.
**Race Highlights**
The race started with Antonelli losing the lead to Leclerc due to a poor start, compounded by a lock-up at Turn 1 that sent him off track. In a remarkable moment, Verstappen spun 360 degrees at Turn 2 while avoiding contact with Leclerc but managed to recover without crashing. By Lap 6, a safety car was deployed after Isack Hadjar hit the wall and Pierre Gasly was spun around by Lawson. Verstappen pitted early on Lap 7.
Racing resumed on Lap 11. Norris used the overtake mode to pass Leclerc for the lead on Lap 13, showcasing McLaren’s upgraded “B-spec” car. Antonelli and Leclerc then battled for position, allowing Norris to build a 2-second gap within three laps. On Lap 21, Russell pitted for hard tires as rain was forecast, but Ferrari unexpectedly called Leclerc in on Lap 22, dropping him to 10th place. An angry Leclerc questioned the team’s strategy, demanding better communication.
On Lap 27, Norris and Hamilton pitted for a conventional strategy, but Antonelli overcut Norris to take the lead. Piastri pitted a lap later and fell behind Leclerc to seventh. By Lap 29, Antonelli passed Verstappen, who was struggling on older tires. Leclerc then moved up to fourth after passing Russell, but Piastri and Russell engaged in a back-and-forth battle.
As the final laps approached, Norris closed within one second of Antonelli on Lap 38 but didn’t attack immediately. On Lap 47, Leclerc made a move on Verstappen at Turn 1, briefly taking third before being repassed, then reclaiming it on the straight. However, on the final lap, after being overtaken by Piastri, Leclerc panicked and locked up, hitting the wall with his left front corner. This allowed Russell and Verstappen to pass him, dropping Leclerc to sixth place.
Antonelli crossed the line first, securing the historic pole-to-win victory at Miami. Norris and Piastri completed the podium, with Russell and Verstappen inheriting fourth and fifth. Hamilton, Colapinto, Sainz, and Albon finished seventh through tenth. The race will be remembered for Antonelli’s rising star and Leclerc’s costly late error.