Kimi Antonelli’s 2026 F1 Miami GP ended in a third straight victory for the Mercedes driver. The 19-year-old held off reigning World Champion Lando Norris to extend his championship lead at the top of the standings.
It was far from a straightforward afternoon in Miami. A slow launch off the line, early chaos and a mid-race gearbox scare forced Antonelli to manage more than just outright pace before taking the chequered flag.
Behind him, Oscar Piastri secured the final podium spot for McLaren, capitalising on late drama after Charles Leclerc spun on the final lap, dropping the Ferrari driver out of the top three. George Russell came home fourth in a controlled drive, finishing ahead of Lewis Hamilton in sixth.
Antonelli reflects on a hectic 2026 F1 Miami GP
Speaking after the race, Kimi Antonelli was honest about the mistakes that briefly cost him the lead in the opening stages. He acknowledged fortune played a role in how things unfolded with Verstappen’s helping him.
“Yeah, I mean, start was not as bad as yesterday, it was a little bit better. I didn’t expect Charles to brake that early, so to avoid him obviously I locked up and then I was a bit lucky with what happened then in Turn 2,” he stated.
The energy management error that followed proved costly in the short term. Antonelli lost a place to Norris as a result, before the strategy ultimately swung back in his favour. He had passed Leclerc for the lead but ran out of battery and dropped two places.
“And then I did a little mistake with the energy management trying to overtake Charles and then I lost the place to Lando. But then the pace was strong, I was able to stay close, and then the team did a great strategy. We did a massive undercut and then we managed to bring it home, even though it was not easy.”
History made at the 2026 F1 Miami GP
Antonelli became the first driver ever to win his first three GPs from pole position. It is a record that puts him ahead of names like Senna and Schumacher. Asked about the achievement, he was characteristically calm in his response.
“No, thank you, thank you. I mean, this is just the beginning. The road is still long, but we’re working super hard and the team is doing an incredible job. Without them I wouldn’t be here, so mainly thanks to them, to my family. And yeah, I’m going to enjoy this one and then get to work, because Canada is in two weeks’ time.”
Antonelli breaks down his F1 Miami GP
In the post-race press conference, Antonelli gave a more detailed account of how the race played out. He was candid about the difficult moments that preceded the victory.
“Yeah, it was a good race, a very special one. It was not an easy one because I had a bit of everything. OK, the start was still not great, plus I did a mistake, then I was lucky with how things played out despite the mistake.”
The fight with Leclerc and Norris in the opening phase made things a little complicated. Antonelli fell back before the undercut gave him the advantage he needed.
“And then, yeah, then obviously we were in a fight, me, Charles and Lando, and then I got passed by Lando, did a little mistake on energy, and then I was chasing,” Antonelli stated.
“And then luckily the undercut worked very well, and then we found ourselves being chased. But it was not easy because Lando was quick and he was applying a lot of pressure. And I just knew I couldn’t make any mistakes.”
Antonelli on managing pressure from Norris at the 2026 F1 Miami GP
With Norris closing in during the final stint, the mental load on Kimi Antonelli grew considerably. The reigning World Champion pushed hard, and the conditions made clean driving more demanding.
“Yeah, it was very stressful because he was also sometimes on the edge of getting so many times the overtake mode. We know how powerful that is and I just knew I couldn’t make any mistakes. And it was not easy because the conditions were tricky today, with the rain that kind of cleaned a bit the rubber that was on track, and it was very slippery.”
Despite it all, Antonelli held firm. He was quick to credit those around him for making it possible.
“So, it was not easy, but very happy that we brought it home. Of course, massive thanks to the team for the incredible job and also to my family, who was here the whole weekend.”
Gearbox scare adds to Antonelli’s challenges
A late-race gearbox concern added further tension to Kimi Antonelli’s afternoon. He reported the issue over the radio but managed to stay composed as the laps counted down.
“No, it didn’t really affect. I mean, just in the moment I had two, three laps where I wasn’t getting some of the downshifts, and then I had a couple of laps where it wouldn’t upshift from seventh to eighth.”
The problem cleared up before it became critical for his Miami GP. Antonelli was relieved, though clear-eyed about how uncomfortable the timing had been.
“So, it was a little bit stressful, but luckily it was just a matter of those few laps and then it was fine.
“Obviously, it was adding stress because I was being chased and I knew I couldn’t make any mistakes, and that wasn’t helping for sure. But then it lasted very shortly, so I was happy with that,” he stated.
Antonelli identifies starts as an area for improvement
Despite the victory, Antonelli was self-critical when the topic of race starts came up. It is an area he and the team have flagged as something to address going forward.
“Yeah, I mean, today to be fair was not as bad. I think I lost two places, Sprint I lost six, so a little bit better. But still, no, it’s not acceptable. I think especially in a weekend like this, that the gaps are a lot closer, it can really change the race.”
He was thoughtful about where the root of the problem lies. Rather than deflecting blame, Antonelli pointed inward: “So, I think it’s a point where also together with the team we need to, because yesterday, for example, in the Sprint, procedure-wise it was good, but just the grip level that we thought there was, was just not there.
“So, I think also with the team, but for sure mainly from me, because I’m still a little bit inconsistent, especially on clutch drop. But I still don’t have that confidence, being consistent with that. I still have a bit of uncertainty, so it’s a big point that needs to be improved.”
The response after both incidents, however, showed a driver who is learning to manage setbacks in the moment. That composure, Kimi Antonelli suggested, made the difference on Sunday.
“But I think today I managed it better than yesterday. Yesterday I was very frustrated and today I just kept it a bit cool, a bit better, and just managed to move on and focus about the race.”
Antonelli’s 2026 F1 Miami GP victory takes his tally to three wins from four races. With upgrades arriving in Montreal, the championship lead looks firmly established as the F1 season continues.
