Norris wins Miami Sprint as Antonelli penalized, McLaren shows strong pace

Lando Norris secured his first victory of the 2026 season with a commanding drive to win the Miami Sprint, leading a McLaren one-two finish. The reigning world champion's win ended Mercedes' perfect record in Sprints and Grands Prix this year. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli finished fourth on track but was demoted to sixth by a five-second penalty for repeated track limits violations, allowing teammate George Russell to take fourth and cut Antonelli's points lead to seven.

Why it matters:

McLaren's dominant one-two signals a significant shift in form following their major upgrade package, potentially reigniting the title fight. For Mercedes, Antonelli's penalty and difficult start add pressure, tightening the championship battle ahead of the main Grand Prix. The result proves the competitive order is far from settled, especially with teams introducing key developments.

The details:

• Norris converted pole position into a comfortable lead at the start and managed the race to win by 3.8 seconds from teammate Oscar Piastri.
• Antonelli lost positions at the start for the fourth consecutive race this season, dropping behind Piastri and Charles Leclerc's Ferrari due to a lack of grip.
• The Mercedes driver was then handed a five-second penalty after committing four separate track limits infringements during the 19-lap race.
• Max Verstappen finished fifth for Red Bull after an early, wheel-brushing duel with Lewis Hamilton, whom he eventually passed cleanly on lap nine.
• Ferrari's Charles Leclerc finished third, continuing the team's record of finishing every race in that position so far in 2026.

What's next:

The focus immediately shifts to qualifying for Sunday's Grand Prix, where teams will fine-tune their cars based on Sprint data.

• McLaren will aim to confirm their upgraded pace over a full race distance, while Mercedes needs to solve Antonelli's recurring start issues and find more one-lap speed.
• With the championship lead now just seven points, Antonelli must regroup quickly to maintain his advantage over a resurgent Norris and the chasing pack.