Piastri makes late charge for Miami GP podium as teen makes more F1 history

Oscar Piastri says the future is exciting for McLaren after the Australian made a late charge to finish third in the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix.

Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli claimed a third consecutive grand prix win following a chaotic race in Miami, with McLaren’s Lando Norris finishing second.

Piastri started seventh after a difficult qualifying session the day before, but he had risen to fourth after a wild first lap where Charles Leclerc went from third to first, while Max Verstappen spun while trying to take the lead.

Of those who finished in the top seven in Miami, Piastri was the last to pit when McLaren called him in at the end of lap 28 of 57.

The Australian then methodically chased down Mercedes George Russell (fourth), Max Verstappen (fifth) and then passed Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc (sixth) on the penultimate lap to secure the podium finish.

Leclerc would spin on the final lap and clip the wall, setting up a thrilling run to the line between himself, Russell and Verstappen for fourth place.

McLaren has shown it can close the gap to Mercedes after the reigning constructors’ champions suffered a horror start to the season, with both Piastri and Norris failing to start in China.

Norris and Piastri finished first and second during the sprint race in Miami, while the Australian produced a tremendous drive to claim second during the Japanese Grand Prix last start. 

Speaking after his podium finish in Miami, the nine-time grand prix winner said he felt McLaren was on the up after a rough start to 2026.

“I think this weekend we showed that if we get track position, we can hang on to things,” he said.

“We were close in Japan, but we have definitely taken a step forward, and hopefully, in Canada, we can take another step forward.

“Excited for the future.”

Antonelli makes history with third consecutive win

Kimi Antonelli came into the Miami Grand Prix weekend off two consecutive grand prix wins, both from pole position. 

The championship leader continued his tremendous form on Saturday in Miami with a third straight pole, joining Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher as the only drivers to have achieved their first three career poles consecutively. 

But unlike Senna and Schumacher, Antonelli has become the first driver to achieve their first three career poles consecutively and convert all three into race wins. 

Antonelli has not been a good starter in 2026, and again in Miami, he lost the lead of the race.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc came from third to snatch the lead, while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen also had eyes on the lead after starting on the front row.

Verstappen spun while trying to battle Leclerc, but the Dutchman was able to show his brilliance by somehow preventing his Red Bull from slamming into the wall. 

Leclerc led from Antonelli, with McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, along with Mercedes driver George Russell in hot pursuit. 

Lecerlc, Antonelli and Norris would break away from the pack and contest the lead until a safety car was called on lap six.

Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar had gone into the wall, while separately, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly was flipped over after being clipped from behind by Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson. 

From the restart, Leclerc led Norris and then Antonelli, but would not hold it for long.

Norris and Antonelli passed the Ferrari driver and quickly turned the race into a two-driver fight.

Mercedes pitted Antonelli at the end of lap 26, with the teenager then producing an excellent out lap.

Norris was called in one lap later and did come back on track ahead of Antonelli, but the Mercedes driver’s tyres were up to temperature, and he was able to make the race-winning move. 

“The team did a great strategy, a massive undercut, and we managed to bring it home,’ Antonelli said post-race.

“I’m going to enjoy this one, and then get back to work.”

Norris described himself as “gutted” after the race, firmly believing he and McLaren missed a big opportunity to claim their first grand prix win of the season.

“We got undercut; we should have boxed [pitted] first,” Norris said.

“Kimi did a good job. Hats off Merc and Kimi, they drove a good race.

“I have to be happy, as a team we have to be happy, but I am gutted to miss out on a win.”

There was plenty of drama at the very end with an unexpected battle for fourth place.

Leclerc spun on the final lap and clipped the wall, trying to battle Piastri for third place.

Nursing his injured Ferrari, Russel was able to make the move for fourth in the final braking zone. 

Leclerc clipped Russell, as the Mercedes driver made the pass, then Verstappen lunged on the run to the finish line to finish ahead of the Ferrari.

Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton suffered damage to his car early and finished seventh. 

Alpine’s Franco Colapinto achieved an equal-career best eighth.

Williams earned a double points finish with Carlos Sainz ninth and Alex Albon 10th.

Follow all the action of the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix on the live blog below.