Antonelli Quells McLaren Rebellion in Miami and Solidifies His Lead in the Championship

That boyish face hides a competitor like few others, a future Formula 1 world champion, and possibly a dominant force of an era. Kimi Antonelli, at just 19 years old, is already leading the championship. He has three victories under his belt and owns the future. This Sunday in Miami, he secured his third win of the year through a mix of skill and luck. He possesses the talent of the chosen few and enjoys the fortune of winners, that invisible gift that separates the greats from those who can only watch them closely.

As happened the previous day in the sprint race, and in all the races leading up to the break, the start forced him to fight his way back, and he managed to prevail, finishing ahead of Lando Norris, in second place, and Oscar Piastri, in third. His teammate, George Russell, who began the season as a strong favorite for the title, ended up in fourth, bewildered by the mastery of the one who was supposed to be his wingman.

There is still an eternity left in the championship - 16 races yet to be held - but Antonelli is already the contender to beat. There is no other. If any driver wants the title, they will have to take it from his grasp.a

Tactical Success For Mercedes

In the race around the Hard Rock Stadium, moved forward three hours due to a thunderstorm threat that can strike Miami without warning, Antonelli once again struggled in the early meters, but maintained his composure. Perhaps he still lacks experience in starts. What is certain is that his Mercedes has the worst starting system among the top cars in the championship. In every race, as soon as the lights go out, the car gets stuck, losing positions as if it were anchored to the asphalt: this time, despite starting from pole position, he had to concede first place to Charles Leclerc. Then, it was time to suffer.

At the first corner, Antonelli was already fighting to regain the lead when luck finally smiled upon him. The nerves of the start caused him to brake later than he should have, running off the track, and upon his return, he could have lost touch with the pack, but fortune was on his side. Next to him, Max Verstappen suffered a spin that blocked the rest of the competitors, allowing Antonelli to stay in second. The disaster wasn't as severe as it could have been.

From that moment on, it was his turn. In the early laps, Antonelli found himself locked in an intense battle with Leclerc and Norris, with the three separated by mere tenths, while the crowd at the Hard Rock Stadium was thrilled by the spectacle. But it soon became clear that the race would be decided in the pits. If rain did not arrive and the race continued normally, the strategy for all competitors would involve making only one pit stop for tire changes, and choosing the right moment would be crucial. Was it better to do it early, with traffic still on track? Or better to wait and extend the compound's life?

With the weather radar in one hand and telemetry in the other, Mercedes decided to call Antonelli in earlier than anticipated, and the gamble paid off. When Norris followed suit and exited the pit lane, the Italian was already ahead. All that remained was for Antonelli to build a gap, and he did, impressively lap after lap, extending the lead with the calm of someone who has been doing it for years, not months.

Ferrari's Misfortune

In the end, another triumph for him, with both McLaren drivers behind and a major disaster for Ferrari. With three laps to go, Leclerc ran out of tires and plummeted from third to sixth place, while Lewis Hamilton, who never quite found his rhythm all afternoon, crossed the finish line seventh, just behind his teammate. For Scuderia Ferrari, the Miami Grand Prix became yet another afternoon to forget in a season full of misfortunes.

The smiles in Florida ended up on the faces of the Spaniards, despite the precautions. Carlos Sainz finished in the points for the second time this season with a commendable ninth place, ahead of his teammate Alex Albon. Williams has undoubtedly improved the car and has finally secured its place in the midfield. Fernando Alonso, meanwhile, completed the race and even had some fun along the way. He had nothing to lose – finishing in fifteenth place – but fought with Checo Pérez for many minutes and delivered a brilliant final overtaking maneuver.