Kimi Antonelli claimed his third consecutive victory at the 2026 Miami Grand Prix on May 3, his first from pole despite a poor start, extending his championship lead over Mercedes teammate George Russell to 20 points (100-80). The 19-year-old Italian held off McLaren's Lando Norris in a race packed with spins, crashes, safety cars, and penalties for Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen, earning praise from international media and celebrity cheers from Rafael Nadal and Lionel Messi.
The Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix resumed the season after a one-month break due to Middle East conflicts canceling Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, held three hours early on May 3 under dry conditions on medium tires around the Hard Rock Stadium circuit to avoid thunderstorms. The 57-lap race was chaotic from the start: polesitter Antonelli dropped to third at Turn 1 amid Max Verstappen's lock-up and 360-degree spin to 10th, while Charles Leclerc briefly led.
A lap 5 safety car followed crashes involving Red Bull's Isack Hadjar and Alpine's Pierre Gasly (flipped by Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson but unhurt). Norris led post-restart until Antonelli's lap 27 undercut pit stop reclaimed the lead. Despite gearbox issues, track-limits checks, and humidity, Antonelli won by 3.264s over Norris, with Oscar Piastri third 27.092s back. Leclerc spun on the final lap and received a 20-second penalty for a damaged car, track excursions, and contact with Russell, dropping to eighth. Verstappen added a five-second penalty for pit exit infringement, finishing fifth.
Final top eight: 1. Antonelli (Mercedes), 2. Norris (McLaren), 3. Piastri (McLaren), 4. Russell (Mercedes), 5. Verstappen (Red Bull), 6. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), 7. Franco Colapinto (Alpine), 8. Leclerc (Ferrari).
The race featured FIA 2026 tweaks capping hybrid boost at 150 kW. France's L’Equipe noted Verstappen's spin caused Turn 2 mayhem; Spain's Marca said it ruined his race; Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport called Antonelli the race's 'hurricane,' winning without the fastest car amid McLaren's updates; The Guardian deemed it 'fully deserved' and superior to prior wins. Observers highlighted three-and-a-half competitive teams, with Ferrari lagging.
Rafael Nadal waved the chequered flag, Lionel Messi congratulated Antonelli, who endured brutal heat: "It was tough. So hot. So humid... Please, just be over." He added, "This is just the beginning." Mercedes' Toto Wolff cautioned: "Don't get carried away... He has a fierce competitor in Russell." The team targets upgrades for Canada (May 22-24).
