2026 F1 Miami GP | Race results

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A dramatic start shook up the order as drivers battled changing conditions and an earlier race time designed to avoid severe weather. Immediate incidents and bold overtakes defined the opening phase, setting the stage for an unpredictable contest, as battles at the front during the second half kept the classification order anything but settled. Ultimately, however, it was Antonelli who claimed the race win at the 2026 F1 Miami GP.

Chaotic start sees Leclerc lead as separate Hadjar and Gasly incidents bring out the Safety Car

Charles Leclerc stormed into the lead at the start after a dramatic opening lap, as pole-sitter Kimi Antonelli ran wide and Max Verstappen spun out of contention. Antonelli recovered to second, while Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri slotted in behind. Verstappen dropped to ninth after contact with Franco Colapinto but quickly passed Liam Lawson to gain one position.

Leclerc initially built a gap, but Antonelli used the pace of his Mercedes to challenge and briefly take the lead before Leclerc regained control. Norris then overtook Antonelli for second place.

Race Control deployed the Safety Car soon after, following separate crashes for Isack Hadjar and Pierre Gasly, both of whom retired. Verstappen used the neutralisation to make an early pit stop. Meanwhile, Lawson, having been involved in Gasly’s crash, also retired, with Audi’s Nico Hülkenberg joining them for separate reasons.

Antonelli, Norris and Verstappen duel as pit stops shape mid-race

Norris took the lead after the restart by passing Leclerc, while Kimi Antonelli fought into second. Verstappen charged through the field as teams debated pit timing amid the threat of rain, and a slow stop dropped Leclerc back.

Light rain triggered some pit stops, briefly promoting Piastri to the lead. Antonelli, on fresher tyres, overtook Norris and Verstappen to reclaim first, with Norris slotting into second. George Russell held off Leclerc until Lap 31, when Leclerc moved into fourth and pulled clear.

Up front, Norris closed the gap to Antonelli, who reported gearbox and tyre temperature issues but stayed ahead. Piastri passed Russell after a prolonged fight and set off after Leclerc, though Russell briefly fought back. Further down, battles stabilised, and gaps widened as tyre wear became critical. With around 20 laps to go, less than a second separated Antonelli and Norris, but by Lap 45, Antonelli had stretched the gap to nearly two seconds. Behind them, Verstappen and Leclerc ran closely, separated by just over a second.

Antonelli claims victory at the 2026 F1 Miami GP after an action-packed race

Verstappen and Leclerc fought closely for third on Lap 48, with Verstappen using his newer tyres to defend effectively and retain the position. Piastri then capitalised, passing Verstappen on Lap 49 to move up to fifth.

In the midfield, Gabriel Bortoleto overtook Esteban Ocon for 12th, but the gap to the points remained too large to challenge. Fernando Alonso switched to soft tyres late on in an attempt to gain places, though he stayed well outside the points. He did, however, get past Sergio Pérez to claim P15.

With five laps remaining, Antonelli remained almost 2.4 seconds ahead of Norris, as teammate Russell sought to close the gap to Verstappen. Meanwhile, Piastri threatened Leclerc for the final podium position, cutting the gap to under a second on Lap 55.

On the penultimate lap, just 0.4 seconds separated Piastri and Leclerc as the fight for the podium intensified. Russell attacked Verstappen but could not get past, and both battles carried into the final lap.

Piastri then overtook Leclerc to secure third. As Leclerc tried to respond, he spun and sustained damage, allowing Russell and Verstappen to move through into fourth and fifth. Up front, Kimi Antonelli held firm to take the win.