Antonelli wins in Miami to extend F1 title lead

Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli held off McLaren’s Lando Norris in a race-long battle to win the Miami Grand Prix and take a commanding championship lead.

The 19-year-old Italian’s third win in a row moves him 20 points – not far from a clear win – ahead of team-mate George Russell, who finished fourth on Sunday, behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.

Antonelli prevailed in a gripping race, initially staging a three-car fight also including Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, before the race distilled down to a tussle between the Mercedes and Norris.

The long-threatened rain, which had caused the race start to be brought forward by three hours, never materialised, apart from a few spots mid-race, and the grand prix ran its distance in dry conditions.

“This is just the beginning. The road is still long. We are working super hard and the team is doing an incredible job,” Antonelli said.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen recovered from a first-lap spin to finish fifth. However, the Dutchman faces an investigation from the stewards for crossing the white line on pit exit, while Russell is under investigation for separate incidents with both Leclerc and Verstappen.

The key stories in Miami were:

• Another win for Antonelli, who has won three of the first four races to put pre-season favourite Russell in the shade and become the first driver to win from his first three poles
• A revival for McLaren after upgrades this weekend and a strong drive from Norris
• A full-on race for Verstappen, including a rare mistake, a fightback and some on-the-edge racing
• Many examples of the “yo-yo racing” that has characterised this new season and has split opinion

Antonelli overcomes another poor start

Antonelli took this win despite another poor start – he has now lost places off the line in all four grands prix and both sprint events this season.

His Mercedes was swamped by Leclerc’s fast-starting Ferrari from fourth on one side and Verstappen on the other on the run to the first corner.

Verstappen went to the inside, but ran deep and as he fought to retain the lead, Leclerc squeezed him at Turn Two, and the four-time champion lost control on the kerb, spinning a full 360 degrees with the entire field behind him.

He quickly regained control but had dropped to 10th place and now out of the fight for victory, a blow on a weekend on which Red Bull appeared to return to competitiveness.

That left Leclerc leading from Antonelli and Norris, and the yo-yo fighting began, caused by varying rates of battery charge.

Antonelli took the lead on lap four, only for Leclerc to pass back a lap later, before a safety car was sent out after two separate accidents on lap six.

Isack Hadjar crashed his Red Bull on his own at the final chicane and Pierre Gasly’s Alpine was tipped into a somersault by Liam Lawson’s Racing Bulls at the final corner. (BBC)

 

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