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Antonelli Wins Miami GP, Extends Lead, First Three-Pole Convert

5/5/2026

Summary

Antonelli Wins Miami

Kimi Antonelli won the Miami Grand Prix, extending his lead in the 2026 drivers’ championship.
He became the first driver to turn his first three pole positions into race victories.
He faced overheating tyres and a steering-wheel connector fault that briefly delayed paddle-shifts.
The win gave him a points advantage over teammate driver George Russell.
Mercedes principal Toto Wolff said Antonelli’s speed and growing experience make him a promising contender.

Summary

Antonelli Names DJ

Antonelli said the concert DJ resembled Shaquille O’Neal and identified him as DJ Diesel.
Miami’s weekend featured fan concerts that turned the race city into a music festival.
Thunderstorms forced the race to start three hours early under U.S. lightning-safety rules.
A 90-minute practice, the longest of the six Sprint weekends, was held.
After the Middle-East pause, teams fine-tuned battery management, delivering smoother power per drivers.

Summary

Antonelli Under Spotlight

Antonelli is likened to Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner because both have three straight wins on matching dates in 2026.
Toto Wolff warned that the surge of Italian attention, heightened by Italy’s football miss, could overwhelm 19-year-old Antonelli and said his father Marco is essential to keep him grounded.
The Canadian Grand Prix on 24 May coincides with the French Open start, where Sinner seeks a Grand Slam while Alcaraz sits out.

Summary

Russell Gains Ground

George Russell altered the car’s differential over the weekend to improve handling.
He also matched the brake bias to Antonelli’s setup, noting a clear performance gain.
The differential and brake-bias tweaks, the only setup changes made, lifted Russell from sixth to fourth place.
The gain reduced Antonelli’s championship lead to 20 points and prompted Russell to praise Antonelli’s speed while emphasizing balanced settings for the title fight.

History

Historical Context

On 15 May 2016 Max Verstappen, promoted from Toro Rosso to Red Bull, won the Spanish Grand Prix at 18 years 228 days, becoming the youngest ever winner and the first Dutch victor. The race also saw Mercedes’ Hamilton and Rosberg retire after a first-lap clash, prompting the FIA to tighten super-licence age rules for future drivers.

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Antonelli Wins Miami

Kimi Antonelli won the Miami Grand Prix, extending his lead in the 2026 drivers’ championship.
He became the first driver to turn his first three pole positions into race victories.
He faced overheating tyres and a steering-wheel connector fault that briefly delayed paddle-shifts.
The win gave him a points advantage over teammate driver George Russell.
Mercedes principal Toto Wolff said Antonelli’s speed and growing experience make him a promising contender.

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