In a thrilling Formula 1 Grand Prix of Miami, free from weather disruptions, young prodigy Kimi Antonelli secured another impressive victory, solidifying his strong championship aspirations.
The Italian Mercedes driver triumphed in Florida on Sunday, ahead of reigning champion Lando Norris in a resurgent McLaren. This marks Antonelli’s third consecutive win of the season.
«This is just the beginning, there’s still a long way to go,» Antonelli stated. «But we are working very hard. I will enjoy this now and then continue. In three weeks, we head to Canada.»
Despite some initial starting issues, Antonelli delivered a world-class performance. Only Norris in the McLaren could keep pace, but the youngest points leader in Formula 1 history remained composed under pressure.
In the overall standings, Antonelli now leads teammate George Russell by 20 points, who experienced a setback in the duel between the strong Silver Arrows, finishing fourth. Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren secured third place, behind Antonelli and Norris. Red Bull star Max Verstappen, who fought for his first podium of the year for a long time, finished fifth, ahead of Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari.
For Nico Hülkenberg, his disappointing first season with Audi continued. After a collision, the German had to pit early and a few laps later parked his car due to gearbox problems, extending the wait for his first championship points.
The anticipated weather disruptions had overshadowed all sporting discussions in Miami. Drivers lacked experience with the tricky new cars in wet conditions. Organizers reacted promptly, moving the start forward by three hours. Ultimately, the weather was not a deciding factor.
Formula 1 in Miami: Norris Fails to Overtake Antonelli
The drivers started at 1:00 PM local time under dry conditions, and celebrities like football superstar Lionel Messi and tennis legend Rafael Nadal witnessed a chaotic first lap. While Charles Leclerc capitalized on Ferrari’s strong start, leaping from third to first, pole-sitter Antonelli and Verstappen braked too late into the first corner. Verstappen spun upon rejoining the track, losing many positions.
In the early stages, Leclerc, Antonelli, and Norris battled for the lead. In lap six, the Safety Car was deployed after Isack Hadjar crashed into the wall due to a driving error, and Pierre Gasly somersaulted almost simultaneously after contact with Liam Lawson.
Verstappen switched to hard tires, dropping him to 16th. At the restart, Leclerc led the field ahead of Norris, who had passed Antonelli just before the Safety Car. Norris eventually took the lead from the Monegasque driver on lap 13. Shortly after, the Mercedes shooting star also overtook the Ferrari.
Norris pulled away at the front, with only Antonelli able to match his pace. The Italian pitted a lap earlier and soon after snatched the lead from the earlier-stopping Verstappen on track.
As the rain continued to hold off, Antonelli controlled the race until he reported gearbox problems. Norris closed in but could not manage to overtake.