The 2026 Miami Grand Prix had a little bit of everything. A race start moved three hours earlier due to thunderstorm warnings, a first-lap spin from Max Verstappen, two safety cars, an early crash that sent Pierre Gasly airborne, a dramatic last-lap spin from Charles Leclerc, two post-race penalties, and a winning margin of just over three seconds between the top two. At the centre of it all, as he has been all season: Kimi Antonelli.

The 19-year-old Italian claimed his third consecutive Grand Prix victory of the 2026 season at the Miami International Autodrome, resisting a relentless chase from Lando Norris across the final stint to extend his championship lead. It was a result that owed as much to Mercedes’ strategic brilliance as it did to Antonelli’s composure under pressure.

A Race Brought Forward by Three Hours

Even before lights out, Miami delivered drama. With heavy thunderstorms forecast for Sunday afternoon, the FIA and race organisers took the decision to bring the Grand Prix forward by three hours — from 4 p.m. to 1 p.m. local time. Rain had already fallen on Sunday morning, but conditions had dried by the revised start time, leaving a damp but green track for the teams to navigate.

On the grid, Antonelli had claimed his third consecutive pole position in Qualifying the evening before — a composed response after his difficult Sprint earlier on Saturday. Verstappen lined up second after a strong qualifying performance from Red Bull, with Norris and Piastri completing the second row. Leclerc had started from fifth on the grid, while Lewis Hamilton and George Russell filled the third row for Ferrari and Mercedes respectively. Isack Hadjar had been disqualified from Qualifying for a technical infringement and was forced to start from the back.

First-Lap Carnage: Verstappen Spins, Gasly Flies

The opening lap was barely a minute old before the race was thrown into chaos. When the lights went out, Antonelli found himself with Verstappen and a fast-launching Leclerc on each side of his Mercedes. Verstappen — who also suffered a lock-up — made contact with Leclerc and spun around 360 degrees, narrowly avoiding any further incidents as the pack steamed around him. This elevated Leclerc to the lead ahead of Antonelli and the McLarens.

Further back, the race’s first retirement came from an even more alarming incident. Isack Hadjar crashed in the early stages, while Alpine’s Pierre Gasly retired early on after being tipped into a flip by Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson. Lawson retired his car after that incident. The Safety Car was deployed immediately, bunching the field together and triggering a flurry of strategic decisions.

Verstappen, already last after his spin, pitted under the Safety Car on lap 6 to begin his recovery drive through the field. It would eventually cost him: post-race footage confirmed he had crossed the white line on the pit exit, earning a five-second penalty — though this would ultimately leave his fifth place intact thanks to Leclerc’s larger sanction later on.

Strategy, Overtakes and the Undercut That Won It

With Leclerc in the lead and the McLarens circulating close behind, the first half of the race developed into a tactical battle. Antonelli ran in second, managing his tyres and waiting for his opportunity. The lead changed hands numerous times, with Antonelli later overtaking Leclerc while Norris, Piastri and Verstappen all enjoyed stints at the front.

The decisive moment came via the pit wall. Mercedes executed what Antonelli himself described as a “massive undercut,” pulling him in earlier than expected and releasing him back on track ahead of the key rivals. From there, the Italian managed his advantage with the measured pace that has defined his 2026 season.

“The pace was strong, I was able to stay close, and then the team did a great strategy. We did a massive undercut, and we managed to bring it home, even though it was not easy.”

— Kimi Antonelli, post-race

Norris gave everything in the closing laps to close the gap, but Antonelli had just enough margin. The Briton crossed the line 3.264 seconds behind, collecting maximum McLaren points alongside third-placed Piastri — who had overtaken Leclerc on the penultimate lap. It was a bittersweet afternoon for the world champion.

“Mercedes was beatable today — that’s the most frustrating part.”

— Lando Norris, post-race

Leclerc’s Last-Lap Disaster

If the race had a single moment of pure drama, it was Charles Leclerc’s final lap. Having got the jump on front row starters at the start and led the early laps, Leclerc found himself in third during the closing stages. He lost the position to Piastri’s McLaren on the penultimate lap, and in his quest to regain a spot on the podium, Leclerc suffered a dramatic spin through Turn 3 on the final tour.

He spun into the wall, damaging his car, and although he was able to continue, he struggled with the SF-26 over the remainder of the lap and dropped behind both George Russell and Max Verstappen over the final two corners. A post-race investigation confirmed he had cut multiple corners while continuing after the spin, resulting in a 20-second time penalty — dropping him all the way from sixth to eighth.

“It’s all on me and I don’t have much to add other than that. I put a very strong race in the bin.”

— Charles Leclerc, post-race

Final Classification

Championship Standings After Round 4

Antonelli’s victory — his third in four races — consolidates his lead at the top of the drivers’ standings. The Silver Arrows also extend their advantage in the constructors’ championship, with McLaren now firmly the closest challenger after their strong Miami weekend.

Miami delivered everything Formula 1 promises and then some. Antonelli’s composure under pressure, Norris’s relentless pursuit, Verstappen’s recovery from a race-opening spin, and Leclerc’s heartbreaking self-destruction on the final lap — four rounds into 2026, the season already feels unmissable. Next stop: Montreal.