Formula 1’s 2025 Miami Grand Prix Race Review
Piastri leads dominant McLaren 1-2 weekend as Antonelli and Albon shine in wild Florida sprint double-header
The 2025 Miami Grand Prix weekend delivered everything a modern Formula 1 fan could want: unpredictable weather, a maiden pole from a rising rookie, a chaotic Sprint, and a dominant Grand Prix drive by the championship leader. Under the palm trees and neon lights of Florida’s most vibrant city, McLaren emerged as the team to beat, while Mercedes’ teenage prodigy Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Williams’ Alexander Albon added thrilling depth to a weekend full of drama, penalties, and strategic masterclasses.
Let’s break down all the key sessions from a sensational Sprint weekend in Miami.
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2025 Miami Grand Prix – Sprint Qualifying
Andrea Kimi Antonelli delivered a sensational performance under the Florida sun to take his maiden pole position during Sprint Qualifying at the 2025 Miami Grand Prix. The 17-year-old Mercedes rookie stunned the paddock with a mighty lap of 1:26.482, becoming the youngest polesitter in Formula 1 history across any format, and snatching the top spot from both McLaren drivers in a thrilling SQ3 finale.
The final segment saw Max Verstappen momentarily top the timesheets before being quickly dethroned by George Russell. But just as the Mercedes garage looked poised to celebrate, Antonelli charged through with a flawless final lap that sealed his name in the record books. Oscar Piastri came within 0.045s of stealing it, while teammate Lando Norris locked out the top three for McLaren.
Verstappen ultimately settled for fourth, followed by Russell in fifth. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were next, while Alex Albon continued Williams’ upward trend with an eighth-place effort. Isack Hadjar impressed with ninth for Racing Bulls, and Fernando Alonso rounded out the top ten for Aston Martin.
Just missing out on a spot in SQ3 was Nico Hulkenberg in 11th, who was bumped out late in SQ2. Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly, Liam Lawson, and Carlos Sainz also fell in the second segment — with Sainz locking up at Turn 11 and aborting his final push lap.
SQ1 had its share of drama too. Yuki Tsunoda failed to start his last flying lap in time and was eliminated early alongside Jack Doohan, Lance Stroll, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Ollie Bearman. Several drivers flirted with the walls around the Miami International Autodrome, highlighting just how unforgiving the circuit can be when pushing the limits.
Antonelli called his final lap “mighty” — a statement no one could argue with — as the F1 rookie now finds himself leading the grid for Saturday’s Sprint in what could be a defining moment of his young career.
| Pos | Driver | Team | SQ1 Time | SQ2 Time | SQ3 Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andrea Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:27.858 | 1:27.384 | 1:26.482 |
| 2 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:27.951 | 1:27.354 | 1:26.527 |
| 3 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:27.890 | 1:27.109 | 1:26.582 |
| 4 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:27.953 | 1:27.245 | 1:26.737 |
| 5 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:27.688 | 1:27.666 | 1:26.791 |
| 6 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:28.325 | 1:27.467 | 1:26.808 |
| 7 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:28.231 | 1:27.546 | 1:27.030 |
| 8 | Alexander Albon | Williams | 1:27.859 | 1:27.697 | 1:27.193 |
| 9 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:28.394 | 1:27.773 | 1:27.543 |
| 10 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:28.455 | 1:27.766 | 1:27.790 |
2025 Miami Grand Prix – Sprint Race Review
Lando Norris emerges as the winner, from Oscar Piastri and Lewis Hamilton, in an action-packed Sprint in Miami 🥇👇#F1 #F1Sprint #MiamiGPhttps://t.co/Dd2AQqJ1jD
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 3, 2025
Lando Norris emerged victorious in a chaotic and weather-affected Sprint Race at the 2025 Miami Grand Prix, capitalizing on a perfectly timed pit stop under Safety Car conditions to lead home teammate Oscar Piastri in a dramatic McLaren 1–2. Lewis Hamilton rounded out the podium in third, delivering a clever strategy call for Ferrari on a day where the conditions flipped the script multiple times.
Heavy rain ahead of the Sprint disrupted the start sequence, with Charles Leclerc crashing en route to the grid and ruled out before the lights went out. With the formation laps adding to the lap count, the race finally began on a damp track under vastly improved conditions, all drivers opting for intermediate tyres except Carlos Sainz, who gambled on full wets.
Pole-sitter Andrea Kimi Antonelli lost out at Turn 1 to Piastri, who stormed into the lead with a clean move up the inside. Antonelli ran wide and dropped behind Norris and Verstappen, later voicing his frustration over the radio. The early phase saw several battles up and down the order as drivers adjusted to the drying track and contemplated a switch to slicks.
The turning point came with 5 laps to go, when Fernando Alonso was tagged by Liam Lawson and crashed heavily, triggering a late Safety Car. Piastri had already pitted, relinquishing the lead to Norris, who had stayed out one lap longer and perfectly timed his stop during the neutralized period. The strategy proved decisive.
Norris rejoined in front and maintained position until the checkered flag, taking his first victory since the Australian Grand Prix opener and extending his impressive Miami record. Piastri secured second place after a strong early stint, while Hamilton’s early switch to slicks earned him a well-deserved third.
Post-race penalties reshuffled the order significantly. Max Verstappen was handed a 10-second penalty for an unsafe release in the pit lane following contact with Antonelli, dropping him out of the points. Alexander Albon, Liam Lawson, and Ollie Bearman were also penalized — Albon for a Safety Car infringement, Lawson for causing the Alonso incident, and Bearman for an unsafe release — promoting Yuki Tsunoda, Antonelli, and Pierre Gasly into the final points positions.
Despite the late drama, McLaren executed another flawless weekend in changing conditions, reaffirming their status as championship front-runners. As for Antonelli, a front-row start turned into a lesson in race day decision-making — but his pace and confidence continue to turn heads.
2025 Miami Grand Prix – Sprint Race Results (Top 10):
| Pos | Driver | Team | Time | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 36:37.647 | 8 |
| 2 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | +0.672s | 7 |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | +1.073s | 6 |
| 4 | George Russell | Mercedes | +3.127s | 5 |
| 5 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | +3.412s | 4 |
| 6 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | +5.153s | 3 |
| 7 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | +5.635s | 2 |
| 8 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | +5.973s | 1 |
| — | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | Penalty | 0 |
| — | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | DNS (crash) | 0 |
2025 Miami Grand Prix – Qualifying Review
Pushing to the limit! 😮💨
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 3, 2025
Take a look at all the key highlights from qualifying in Miami ▶️#F1 #MiamiGP
Max Verstappen returned to the top of the timesheets in a closely contested Qualifying session at the Miami Grand Prix, snatching pole position ahead of Lando Norris and Andrea Kimi Antonelli with a late lap that just managed to overcome a Turn 1 wobble. The Red Bull driver’s 1:26.204 was enough to edge out Norris by just 0.065s, sealing his third pole of the 2025 season.
After topping SQ1 and SQ2, McLaren looked primed to lock out the front row, but Norris ran wide over the kerbs on his final flyer and had to settle for second. Antonelli, fresh off his Sprint pole on Friday, delivered another standout performance to line up third on the grid — the Mercedes rookie continuing to impress under pressure.
Oscar Piastri will start fourth for McLaren after falling short in Q3, while George Russell completed the top five for Mercedes. Williams followed with a strong showing as Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon locked out sixth and seventh, respectively. Charles Leclerc rebounded from his Sprint-day crash to qualify eighth for Ferrari, ahead of Esteban Ocon in ninth — marking his first Q3 appearance for Haas. Yuki Tsunoda rounded out the top ten with another strong showing for Red Bull.
There was disappointment for Lewis Hamilton, who exited in Q2 after struggling for grip throughout the session. The seven-time World Champion will start 12th, just behind Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar in 11th. Further back, Fernando Alonso qualified 17th following repairs from his Sprint crash, while Pierre Gasly, Lance Stroll, and Ollie Bearman completed the final row.
With just 0.741s covering the top 10 in Q3, Sunday’s Grand Prix is shaping up to be a fiercely fought contest between Red Bull, McLaren, and Mercedes — with the added twist of changeable weather still looming over the Florida coast.
2025 Miami Grand Prix – Top 10 Qualifiers:
| Pos | Driver | Team | Q1 Time | Q2 Time | Q3 Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:26.870 | 1:26.643 | 1:26.204 |
| 2 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 1:26.955 | 1:26.499 | 1:26.269 |
| 3 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:27.077 | 1:26.606 | 1:26.271 |
| 4 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 1:27.006 | 1:26.269 | 1:26.375 |
| 5 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:27.014 | 1:26.575 | 1:26.385 |
| 6 | Carlos Sainz Jr. | Williams Mercedes | 1:27.098 | 1:26.847 | 1:26.569 |
| 7 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | 1:27.042 | 1:26.855 | 1:26.682 |
| 8 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:27.417 | 1:26.948 | 1:26.754 |
| 9 | Esteban Ocon | Haas Ferrari | 1:27.450 | 1:26.967 | 1:26.824 |
| 10 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:27.298 | 1:26.959 | 1:26.943 |
2025 Miami Grand Prix – Race Review
That race winning aura 👊 @OscarPiastri #F1 #MiamiGP pic.twitter.com/0gSkgT2Tas
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 5, 2025
Oscar Piastri delivered a clinical, commanding performance to win the 2025 Miami Grand Prix, leading home teammate Lando Norris in a crushing McLaren 1–2 that cements the team’s place at the top of the pecking order. It was Piastri’s fourth Grand Prix victory of the season, and arguably his most complete drive yet, showcasing precision, patience, and pace in equal measure.
While Max Verstappen started from pole, his day unraveled quickly after a Turn 1 lock-up led to contact with Norris. The McLaren driver ran wide and fell down the order, handing second to rookie sensation Andrea Kimi Antonelli and third to Piastri. By Lap 4, Piastri had passed the Mercedes and begun hunting down the Red Bull.
The defining move came on Lap 14. Verstappen outbraked himself while defending, and Piastri coolly cut back underneath to seize the lead. One lap later, Norris muscled his way past Verstappen in a bold exchange that involved giving the position back — only to retake it seconds later. McLaren never looked back.
From there, the papaya pair opened up a 35-second buffer over the rest of the field. George Russell made it two Mercedes in the top three with a well-executed undercut under Virtual Safety Car conditions, snatching the final podium spot from Verstappen, who lacked the tire life and overall pace to fight back.
Further down the field, Alex Albon impressed once again with a well-managed drive to fifth for Williams, ahead of Antonelli, who suffered a slow stop mid-race. Ferrari’s day was filled with intra-team tension: Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton traded places multiple times in a strategy-induced drama, with Leclerc finishing seventh and Hamilton eighth after being told to give the place back late on.
Carlos Sainz and Yuki Tsunoda rounded out the points, while Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar narrowly missed out in 11th. Esteban Ocon (12th) and Pierre Gasly (13th) couldn’t break into the top 10, while Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll finished a lap down in what was a dismal outing for Aston Martin.
Four drivers failed to finish: Liam Lawson (collision damage), Gabriel Bortoleto (mechanical), Oliver Bearman (mechanical), and Jack Doohan, whose race ended on Lap 1 after contact with Lawson.
Piastri now leads the Drivers’ Championship with 131 points, extending his gap to 26 points over Norris, with Verstappen a further six points behind on 99.
🏁 2025 Miami Grand Prix – Full Race Results
| Position | Driver | Team | Laps | Time / Retired | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 57 | 1:28:51.587 | 25 |
| 2 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 57 | +4.630s | 18 |
| 3 | George Russell | Mercedes | 57 | +37.644s | 15 |
| 4 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 57 | +39.956s | 12 |
| 5 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | 57 | +48.067s | 10 |
| 6 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 57 | +55.502s | 8 |
| 7 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 57 | +57.036s | 6 |
| 8 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 57 | +60.186s | 4 |
| 9 | Carlos Sainz | Williams Mercedes | 57 | +60.577s | 2 |
| 10 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 57 | +74.434s | 1 |
| 11 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 57 | +74.602s | 0 |
| 12 | Esteban Ocon | Haas Ferrari | 57 | +82.006s | 0 |
| 13 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | 57 | +90.445s | 0 |
| 14 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 56 | +1 lap | 0 |
| 15 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 56 | +1 lap | 0 |
| 16 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 56 | +1 lap | 0 |
| NC | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 36 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 30 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari | 27 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | Jack Doohan | Alpine Renault | 0 | DNF | 0 |
Conclusion: Miami Belongs to McLaren, For Now
McLaren leaves Miami with a resounding statement of intent. A 1-2 in both Qualifying and the race shows that their pace advantage in these conditions is no fluke. Piastri now leads the championship with four wins from six races, while Norris reaffirms his front-runner credentials. Mercedes continues to show promise through Antonelli and Russell, while Ferrari’s strategy struggles and Red Bull’s inconsistencies are becoming harder to ignore.
As the F1 circus heads next to Imola, the big question remains: can anyone stop the orange wave?
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