The 2026 Miami Grand Prix delivered a thrilling spectacle, proving why Formula 1 remains appointment viewing. In a race filled with drama and unexpected twists, Kimi Antonelli emerged triumphant, solidifying his status as F1's next superstar. International media outlets were quick to laud his performance, contrasting it with the chaotic experiences of other frontrunners like Max Verstappen.
Key Takeaways from the Miami GP:
- Kimi Antonelli clinched his third consecutive victory, further extending his championship lead with a display of remarkable composure.
- Max Verstappen endured a dramatic early spin, forcing him into a recovery drive from ninth place.
- McLaren showed significant performance upgrades, engaging in fierce battles for the podium.
- Ferrari struggled to convert potential into points, with Charles Leclerc's late-race error and penalty dropping him down the order.
The Guardian: “All the hallmarks of a champion”
Kimi Antonelli’s victory from pole in Miami was anything but straightforward, as the young Italian lost positions at the start before recovering to secure yet another win and extend his championship lead.
In its race report, The Guardian highlights Antonelli’s ability to remain composed under pressure, describing his “champion’s composure” and his capacity to “keep his cool” as key factors behind the result. “The teenager cannot legally buy a drink in the US yet but by the end of what was a gripping run to the flag the Italian had most assuredly earned a stiffener,” the British outlet writes.
“The day, however, firmly belonged to Antonelli and much as his wins in China and Japan were impressive, this victory on the circuit that winds its way round the Hard Rock Stadium was of another calibre. While he will not countenance its discussion, it did have all the hallmarks of a champion.”
The Guardian concludes that the win was “fully deserved” and reinforces Mercedes’ position at the front of the field, though with a note that it is largely “at least in Antonelli’s hands,” as the reporter adds. It also suggests George Russell, previously seen as a title favourite, now faces growing pressure: “Russell, the pre-season favourite, now sorely needs to reassert his authority on a title fight in which Antonelli has bossed the last three rounds.”
Marca: “Spin ruins Verstappen’s race”
The opening phase of the Miami Grand Prix was chaotic, with Max Verstappen attempting an aggressive move for the lead but locking up under braking. This allowed Charles Leclerc to cut back and briefly take control, before Verstappen lost the rear of the car and spun. Despite a near-miss situation for the field behind, Verstappen dropped down the order to ninth.
“Verstappen seemed to have everything under control to take the lead, but locked up in an attempt to keep Leclerc behind and put a wheel onto the wet part of Turn 1,” writes Spain’s Marca. “That resulted in a perfect 360-degree spin.”
“He recovered, but dropped to ninth place and saw his race go up in smoke. From the pit wall, the team still tried to benefit from the safety car on lap nine, but on the hard tyre it became a long race. In the end, he was still able to make up some positions in the chaotic closing stages.”
Marca also observes that George Russell has been “somewhat lost for some time compared to the rise of his team-mate,” while Antonelli continues to strengthen his position in the championship fight. “Antonelli is becoming increasingly confident and is building a lead that will be difficult for Russell to close without misfortune or incidents. Italy continues to celebrate in Formula 1. It brings fresh energy to the championship, in which three (and a half) teams are now competing for wins, although Ferrari and Max Verstappen still appear to be one step below Mercedes and McLaren.”
L’Equipe: “Verstappen could not fight on equal terms”
L’Equipe describes a frantic opening stint in Miami, with Verstappen’s spin creating early disruption at the front of the field. The Red Bull driver briefly lost control in a 360-degree rotation, triggering chaos as others scrambled to avoid the incident, while Antonelli managed to escape the situation by running wide.
“Antonelli is no longer just the pleasant surprise of the start of the season; he is a very serious title contender,” states L’Equipe. However, it notes that his start was still not flawless, despite being an improvement on previous races.
Attention also shifts to the intense midfield and podium battle involving Oscar Piastri, Charles Leclerc, and George Russell. “Verstappen, who made his pit stop during the neutralisation on lap six, could not fight on equal terms with Leclerc, Russell and Piastri. The Dutchman drove an aggressive race, held on for a long time, but had to give ground on lap 47.”
The French outlet ultimately reports that Piastri came out ahead in the late battle, underlining McLaren’s resurgence. However, Leclerc’s late-race error proved costly: “Ultimately, Piastri came out on top in this fight, confirming McLaren’s strong comeback. However, Leclerc made a mistake on the final lap, lost two more positions and finished a disappointing sixth, behind Russell and Verstappen,” with the final classification already adjusted to P8 following his 20-second penalty.
La Gazzetta dello Sport: “The only ‘hurricane’ was Antonelli himself”
Italy celebrated another standout performance from Antonelli, who secured his third consecutive victory and further strengthened his growing reputation as a genuine title contender for 2026.
“The strongest is Italian and now we can officially dream: Antonelli has also won the Miami Grand Prix and there is no longer any doubt – the 19-year-old from Bologna is more than ever a contender for the 2026 world title,” writes La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“What Antonelli showed was a masterpiece in the style of the greats: winning without having the fastest car,” the report adds, noting McLaren’s improved pace after a series of upgrades that shifted the competitive balance.
“The Woking-based team brought many updates and the pace of the papaya-coloured cars was clearly better than in the first three races of the season. But that is precisely where the beauty of Antonelli’s performance lies: he managed to fend off the attacks of his rivals and controlled both crucial phases of the weekend – qualifying and the race – like a champion.”
Praise continues for his execution across the weekend. “Yesterday he took pole position purely on talent; today he drove a perfect race in which he overcame all the pitfalls with the enthusiasm and talent of someone aiming for the top. There were fears of a stormy Sunday, but the only ‘hurricane’ was Antonelli himself, who beat the world champion with a masterful race.”
Ferrari, meanwhile, endured a frustrating end to the race after Leclerc’s late incident and penalty dropped him to P8, promoting Lewis Hamilton to sixth. “A pity for Ferrari, which seemed to have the podium in its hands with Leclerc.”
La Gazzetta concludes that despite updates, the overall hierarchy remains unchanged: “These are details that unfortunately change nothing about the harsh conclusion – the updates were not enough to alter the hierarchy, and the gap to Mercedes and McLaren remains.”
