Anyone expecting Kimi Antonelli to falter will have to wait a little longer. At just 19, the Mercedes prodigy claimed his third straight win at the Miami Grand Prix, showing that while he’s still too young to legally order a celebratory drink in Florida, he’s more than experienced enough to outclass the world’s top drivers.
Beneath the ominous, storm-laden clouds over Hard Rock Stadium, Antonelli endured a turbulent opening and an unyielding chase from reigning champion Lando Norris to stretch his advantage in the Drivers' Championship to 20 points. This was more than a victory; it was a clear declaration of intent.
| Position | Driver | Team | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 3rd win in a row; Pole to Win |
| 2nd | Lando Norris | McLaren | Finished 0.3s behind |
| 3rd | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | Solid podium finish |
| 4th | George Russell | Mercedes | Trails Antonelli by 20 pts |
| 5th | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | Recovered from Lap 1 spin |
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff grouped his young protégé alongside Italy’s other current sporting icon, tennis world No. 1 Jannik Sinner. With both Italians set to dominate their respective disciplines in 2026, Wolff remarked that Antonelli has emerged as the new superstar capturing the Italian public’s fascination.
The easier bit is making sure that he keeps both feet on the ground here in the team. His parents have played a big part in that, to leave him grounded. The bigger problem is the Italian public. Now that they are not qualified for football, it’s all about Sinner and Antonelli, and Antonelli and Sinner. Sinner won in Madrid, so it’s the two that are superstars.Toto Wolff
Wolff noted that this was Antonelli’s best race yet, as he lacked the pure car advantage he enjoyed in China and Japan but defended his position through pure composure.
The race appeared to be getting away from Mercedes. Antonelli surrendered the lead at Turn 1 to Charles Leclerc and was subsequently passed by a charging Lando Norris. Yet the decisive moment was orchestrated from the pit wall.
Undercut: Mercedes brought Antonelli in early, and a huge out-lap closed the gap.
Pit exit: As Norris emerged from his own stop, Antonelli swept past.
Defense: Despite gearbox concerns and fading rear tires, Antonelli was inch-perfect for 30 laps, keeping Norris out of DRS range by the narrowest of margins.
Hat-Trick: Antonelli becomes the first driver in F1 history to win his first three races from his first three pole positions.
Exalted company: He is only the third driver (joining Senna and Schumacher) to take his first three poles in a row.
Russell's reality: George Russell, once considered the pre-season favorite, now trails by 20 points and conceded that his speed was really, really lacking on Miami’s low-grip track.
Mercedes undefeated: The Silver Arrows remain unbeaten in Grand Prix races this season (4 for 4).
Kimi Antonelli shows the composure of a seasoned veteran. Although his 2025 rookie season was riddled with frustrating mistakes, his 2026 campaign signals the emergence of a once-in-a-generation talent. As the traveling show heads to Canada, the issue is no longer the car’s speed, but whether anyone can disrupt the Italian’s unshakeable concentration.