Antonelli Holds Off Chaos for Third Consecutive F1 Win in Miami

Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli secured his third straight Formula 1 victory in a chaotic 2026 Miami Grand Prix, navigating a race filled with dramatic overtakes, multiple incidents, and strategic battles to extend his championship lead.

Why it matters:

Antonelli's ability to win from pole position despite intense pressure and a chaotic race cements his status as a formidable championship contender. This victory, coupled with teammate George Russell's strong recovery to fourth, delivers a crucial points haul for Mercedes in the constructors' battle and stretches Antonelli's personal lead to a significant 20 points.

The details:

• The race exploded into life at Turn 1, where a three-wide battle between Antonelli, Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), and Max Verstappen (Red Bull) saw Leclerc emerge in the lead as the other two locked up and ran wide. Verstappen then spun on exit, dropping to 10th.
• The chaos continued with two major crashes. First, Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) hit the wall at Turn 14. Moments later, a collision between Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) and Pierre Gasly (Alpine) at Turn 17 sent Gasly's car briefly upside down, bringing out the Safety Car.
• The lead changed hands multiple times in the first stint between Leclerc, Lando Norris (McLaren), and Antonelli, showcasing tight racing.
• The Deciding Undercut: Antonelli's race-winning move came via a perfectly executed pit stop strategy. He pitted on Lap 26, forcing Norris to react a lap later. Antonelli exited just behind Norris but, with warmer tires, blasted past the McLaren through the esses to reclaim a lead he would not lose.
• After the stops, Antonelli still had to pass the off-strategy Verstappen, who had pitted early under the Safety Car, to retake the actual race lead on Lap 29.
• Late-Race Drama: The final podium spot was decided on the penultimate lap when Oscar Piastri (McLaren) passed a struggling Leclerc for third. Leclerc then spun at Turn 2, allowing both George Russell and Verstappen to pass him in the closing corners, demoting the Ferrari from fourth to sixth.

What's next:

Antonelli carries strong momentum and a 20-point championship lead into the next round in Canada. However, the pace shown by McLaren's Norris and the sheer unpredictability demonstrated in Miami prove that no victory is guaranteed. The field will regroup at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on May 23-25, where managing the car's rear grip—a complaint from Antonelli late in the Miami race—will again be critical.