Kimi Antonelli is on fire in the 2026 Formula 1 season, and the Miami Grand Prix was just his latest masterclass. The 19-year-old Mercedes phenom secured his third consecutive victory on Sunday, extending a perfect start that has the racing world buzzing.
Starting from pole position—a spot he's owned all season—Antonelli showcased his trademark composure and tactical brilliance. The key moment came on lap 28 during the pit stop exchange. Antonelli pitted just ahead of Lando Norris, and with warmer tires ready to go, he executed a clean overtake as Norris exited the pits. From there, he chased down Max Verstappen, who had spun on the opening lap and pitted early, before building an unassailable lead over the second half of the race.
This victory is historic. On Saturday, Antonelli became only the third driver ever—joining legends Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher—to claim the first three pole positions of his career in consecutive races. But he's gone one better: Antonelli is the first of that elite trio to convert all three poles into wins. It's a statement that echoes far beyond Miami.
With wins already in China and Japan, Antonelli entered this race as the championship leader. Now, after teammate George Russell could only manage sixth place, the young Italian holds a commanding 24-point advantage just four races into the 22-race season. The calendar has been reshuffled—the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix were canceled due to geopolitical tensions—but that hasn't slowed Antonelli's momentum.
Behind the winner, McLaren's Oscar Piastri delivered a thrilling late-race charge to snatch third place from Charles Leclerc on the penultimate lap. Leclerc's drama didn't end there: after losing position, he spun on the final lap and grazed the wall, dropping from fourth to sixth as George Russell and Max Verstappen swept past. Somehow, the Ferrari survived the impact, but the points lost will sting.
The race itself ran dry and fast, thanks to organizers moving the start time three hours earlier to 1 p.m. ET to dodge forecast thunderstorms. It was a smart call that let the drivers focus entirely on the battle—and right now, no one is battling harder or smarter than Kimi Antonelli.