The Miami Grand Prix has come to an end, and McLaren has a lot to shout about after a very obviously dominant performance in Florida. Piastri led home a McLaren 1-2 with teammate Lando Norris in tow, with Mercedes' George Russell claiming the third spot on the podium.
The main talking point about the race weekend was that it was enjoyable, as sad as that is! Miami has a reputation for being a bit of a show weekend. It is a time for connections to be made and for famous people to pretend to know the first thing about motor racing. The 2025 running of the event had that aspect, but the on-track action was the true star.
1:1 scale Lego F1 cars were a great hit with drivers and the fans! Image: Red Bull Content Pool / Getty Images
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However, Oscar Piastri managed the Grand Prix perfectly, extending his championship point tally to 131, leading Norris's 115. The next stop is the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, a driver's highlight and a track that is estimated to favour the McLaren greatly.
McLaren's Miami 1-2 Celebrations. Image: Formula One
With Norris seemingly back on form and the poker face of Max Verstappen and Red Bull faltering in Miami, is this the turning point where McLaren starts making the driver's championship a two-horse race? Let us know your thoughts in the comments down below!
Yuki Tsunoda received a penalty for speeding in the pit lane. Image: Formula One
After switching from Racing Bulls, Tsunoda has certainly filled the role much better than Liam Lawson did, but is trundling around at the tail end of the top ten enough to keep Red Bull happy in the long term? Time will undoubtedly tell, but the Japanese driver needs to start picking up some top-half finishes and a handful of podiums as quickly as possible.
Kimi Antonelli talking to Lando Norris after taking pole in the Miami Sprint Qualifying. Image: Formula One
Antonelli made good progress in the Grand Prix and held station fantastically, defending George Russell from any impending attacks from the Ferraris or Williams for as long as he could before Albon slipped by in the closing laps.
On the other side of the garage, George Russell continued to show that Mercedes is nipping at the heels of the big boys at the front, but the final product in the Mercedes car is just not up to it. Russell has finished on the podium in four of the six events this year, showcasing exactly why Toto Wolff trusted him to lead the Silver Arrows in 2025.
A frustrated Lewis Hamilton being caught by Carlos Sainz. Image: Formula One
During the second half of the race, Hamilton asked Ferrari to swap him and his teammate Leclerc on track so that Hamilton could chase down 6th place and avoid falling into the clutches of a charging Carlos Sainz.
Once the team finally made their decision, it was clear that the Brit was exasperated. He dismissively stated, "Have a tea break while you're at it." He also referred to it as "not good teamwork" and later, after the team switched the two drivers' places back, asked with great sarcasm whether he should give up a place to the aforementioned Williams of Carlos Sainz.
Albon failed to stay above the minimum time under Safety Car conditions, so he was demoted to P11. However, the Stewards noted, "The track conditions were not ideal and the driver created no unsafe or dangerous situation." A decision that Albon made very clear in the following interviews was that he was not happy with, especially as it dropped to 11th and out of the points.
Alex Albon overtakes teammate Carlos Sainz. Image: Formula One
In Carlos Sainz's case, the Spaniard was having a solid weekend with the team, and the race was going well until some on-track strategic calls left him open for attack and far away from teammate Albon. With Albon ending up in fifth at the chequered flag, Sainz came home in ninth and sounded frustrated over team radio as he said, "That's not how I go racing, guys.”
Team boss James Vowles jumped on the radio to acknowledge Sainz's frustrations and said, "I agree with you; we need proper engagement on it." Sainz was ushered into the back of the Williams garage for a quick debrief before addressing the media.
Esteban Ocon being chased down by a frustrated Hamilton. Image: Formula One
On the other side of the garage, Esteban Ocon had his best on-track performance of the season, although by the end of the race, the pace had dropped off a cliff. He held off a frustrated Lewis Hamilton for a good portion of the first half of the race and ultimately showed some excellent driving skills, but 12th place doesn't add any points to his tally.
Liam Lawson's race-ending collision with Jack Doohan sums up the Kiwi's season so far. Image: Formula One
On the other side of the garage, Isack Hadjar had a solid race, spending most of it chasing down his ex-Racing Bulls teammate from the first few rounds of the year, Yuki Tsunoda. The Frenchman would ultimately not have enough pace in his pink Racing Bull's machine to see off Tsunoda in the Red Bull, and 11th place for Hadjar will not be enough to satisfy the ravenous rookie.
Pierre Gasly's pitstop in the Miami Grand Prix. Image: Formula One
A dejected Aston Martin duo of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. Image: Formula One
It is clear to see that the team is not bothered by results in 2025 and is already focusing all of their efforts on the new regulations next year for 2026. Whatsmore, the team look to be lost at the back of the field with two drivers that do not seem to want to push much higher up the grid...
The KICK Saubers ran thirteenth and fourteenth before Boroleto's retirement. Image: Formula One
Credit: Formula One
What did you think about the Miami Grand Prix? Did it exceed your expectations? Let us know in the comments down below!
The main talking point about the race weekend was that it was enjoyable, as sad as that is! Miami has a reputation for being a bit of a show weekend. It is a time for connections to be made and for famous people to pretend to know the first thing about motor racing. The 2025 running of the event had that aspect, but the on-track action was the true star.
1:1 scale Lego F1 cars were a great hit with drivers and the fans! Image: Red Bull Content Pool / Getty Images
Guess The Podium Prediction Game
The Miami Grand Prix saw @Majuh pull ahead by just ten points, but hot on his tail are @addii and then the quartet of @Fecahama @ianc5571 @LMGiorni and @Peter Conway! The fight is still on, and remember, the overall high scorer of the competition will win a year's worth of premium!If you haven't been participating yet, do not fear! There is still plenty of time to win a year of premium website membership by guessing the podium positions of the next Grand Prix weekend, this time in Saudi Arabia. Check out the link below!
VOTE IN THE FORUM THREAD HERE!
If you have any questions, please ask in the comments below!
Christopher E - Community Manager
McLaren: Shining bright in the Sunshine State
Despite arriving into the weekend as the favourites, McLaren did not have it all their way in Miami, especially in the race's first half. The fighting between the two McLarens and Red Bull's Max Verstappen saw some real nail-biting moments that could have very easily ended in the toys being thrown out of the pram.However, Oscar Piastri managed the Grand Prix perfectly, extending his championship point tally to 131, leading Norris's 115. The next stop is the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, a driver's highlight and a track that is estimated to favour the McLaren greatly.
McLaren's Miami 1-2 Celebrations. Image: Formula One
With Norris seemingly back on form and the poker face of Max Verstappen and Red Bull faltering in Miami, is this the turning point where McLaren starts making the driver's championship a two-horse race? Let us know your thoughts in the comments down below!
Red Bull: A story of what could have been
Once again, it was a one-horse race in Miami in the world of Red Bull. Max Verstappen fought tooth and nail with the McLarens and the Mercedes, while Yuki Tsunoda was stuck at the tail end of the top ten in traffic. Despite this, the team brought home a double points finish, despite Verstappen missing out on a podium.Yuki Tsunoda received a penalty for speeding in the pit lane. Image: Formula One
After switching from Racing Bulls, Tsunoda has certainly filled the role much better than Liam Lawson did, but is trundling around at the tail end of the top ten enough to keep Red Bull happy in the long term? Time will undoubtedly tell, but the Japanese driver needs to start picking up some top-half finishes and a handful of podiums as quickly as possible.
Mercedes: Promising pace, but still a step behind
After Kimi Antontelli's fantastic sprint pole, the young Italian's weekend got progressively worse. Antonelli dropped to the midfield in the sprint after some light contact with Lando Norris's McLaren at the first corner, and some pitstop calamities with Max Verstappen saw him drop out of contention entirely.Kimi Antonelli talking to Lando Norris after taking pole in the Miami Sprint Qualifying. Image: Formula One
Antonelli made good progress in the Grand Prix and held station fantastically, defending George Russell from any impending attacks from the Ferraris or Williams for as long as he could before Albon slipped by in the closing laps.
On the other side of the garage, George Russell continued to show that Mercedes is nipping at the heels of the big boys at the front, but the final product in the Mercedes car is just not up to it. Russell has finished on the podium in four of the six events this year, showcasing exactly why Toto Wolff trusted him to lead the Silver Arrows in 2025.
Ferrari: Team radio calamities
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton left Miami scratching their heads yet again as the team in scarlet seemed to make the wrong decisions at the most critical times. Hamilton was especially vocal on the radio and showed how unhappy he was to be stuck behind his teammate.A frustrated Lewis Hamilton being caught by Carlos Sainz. Image: Formula One
During the second half of the race, Hamilton asked Ferrari to swap him and his teammate Leclerc on track so that Hamilton could chase down 6th place and avoid falling into the clutches of a charging Carlos Sainz.
Once the team finally made their decision, it was clear that the Brit was exasperated. He dismissively stated, "Have a tea break while you're at it." He also referred to it as "not good teamwork" and later, after the team switched the two drivers' places back, asked with great sarcasm whether he should give up a place to the aforementioned Williams of Carlos Sainz.
Williams: A story of highs and lows
Speaking of Williams, both drivers' weekends were full of highs and lows. The sprint was a massive success for Albon, who came home in fourth. However, the crushing news that his fourth-place finish was being taken away crushed both Albon and the team on Saturday.Albon failed to stay above the minimum time under Safety Car conditions, so he was demoted to P11. However, the Stewards noted, "The track conditions were not ideal and the driver created no unsafe or dangerous situation." A decision that Albon made very clear in the following interviews was that he was not happy with, especially as it dropped to 11th and out of the points.
Alex Albon overtakes teammate Carlos Sainz. Image: Formula One
In Carlos Sainz's case, the Spaniard was having a solid weekend with the team, and the race was going well until some on-track strategic calls left him open for attack and far away from teammate Albon. With Albon ending up in fifth at the chequered flag, Sainz came home in ninth and sounded frustrated over team radio as he said, "That's not how I go racing, guys.”
Team boss James Vowles jumped on the radio to acknowledge Sainz's frustrations and said, "I agree with you; we need proper engagement on it." Sainz was ushered into the back of the Williams garage for a quick debrief before addressing the media.
Haas: Tale of two races
Both Haas cars had a great showing in the Grand Prix until Oliver Bearman's power unit decided it wanted to meet its maker a bit earlier than scheduled, forcing the struggling Brit out of the race just before the halfway point.Esteban Ocon being chased down by a frustrated Hamilton. Image: Formula One
On the other side of the garage, Esteban Ocon had his best on-track performance of the season, although by the end of the race, the pace had dropped off a cliff. He held off a frustrated Lewis Hamilton for a good portion of the first half of the race and ultimately showed some excellent driving skills, but 12th place doesn't add any points to his tally.
Racing Bulls: Pink pandemonium
A new look for Miami brought little luck for Red Bull-demoted Liam Lawson. His collision with Jack Doohan at the first corner saw him valiantly try to continue in his damaged Racing Bulls car. However, just a few laps later, he would be pushed back into the garage with terminal damage to end another disappointing weekend.Liam Lawson's race-ending collision with Jack Doohan sums up the Kiwi's season so far. Image: Formula One
On the other side of the garage, Isack Hadjar had a solid race, spending most of it chasing down his ex-Racing Bulls teammate from the first few rounds of the year, Yuki Tsunoda. The Frenchman would ultimately not have enough pace in his pink Racing Bull's machine to see off Tsunoda in the Red Bull, and 11th place for Hadjar will not be enough to satisfy the ravenous rookie.
Alpine: Disater for Doohan
Another retirement for the young Australian. Jack Doohan is currently not having a great time at the French outfit, with this being his second retirement this season due to first-lap accidents. The talent and speed are there, but is the pressure too much with Franco Colapinto still looming in the background?Pierre Gasly's pitstop in the Miami Grand Prix. Image: Formula One
Aston Martin: Is it 2026 yet?...
Another race weekend, another step closer to 2026 for Aston Martin. Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll had really poor weekends, with Alonso ending up backwards twice throughout the weekend and Stroll finishing last of the runners.A dejected Aston Martin duo of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. Image: Formula One
It is clear to see that the team is not bothered by results in 2025 and is already focusing all of their efforts on the new regulations next year for 2026. Whatsmore, the team look to be lost at the back of the field with two drivers that do not seem to want to push much higher up the grid...
KICK Sauber: Progress Shown in the Sunshine State
Finally, we move on to KICK Sauber. It was another tough weekend for the boys and girls in green, but some progress was shown, with both Hulkenberg and Bortoleto showing some good midfield pace throughout the weekend. The duo were running thirteenth and fourteenth for a lot of the race before Bortoleto's car decided to become unresponsive and force him into yet another early retirement.The KICK Saubers ran thirteenth and fourteenth before Boroleto's retirement. Image: Formula One
Drivers Standings following the Miami Grand Prix
| Pos | Driver | Nationality | Car | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oscar Piastri | AUS | McLaren Mercedes | 131 |
| 2 | Lando Norris | GBR | McLaren Mercedes | 115 |
| 3 | Max Verstappen | NED | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 99 |
| 4 | George Russell | GBR | Mercedes | 93 |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | MON | Ferrari | 53 |
| 6 | Kimi Antonelli | ITA | Mercedes | 48 |
| 7 | Lewis Hamilton | GBR | Ferrari | 41 |
| 8 | Alexander Albon | THA | Williams Mercedes | 30 |
| 9 | Esteban Ocon | FRA | Haas Ferrari | 14 |
| 10 | Lance Stroll | CAN | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 14 |
| 11 | Yuki Tsunoda | JPN | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 9 |
| 12 | Pierre Gasly | FRA | Alpine Renault | 7 |
| 13 | Carlos Sainz | ESP | Williams Mercedes | 7 |
| 14 | Nico Hulkenberg | GER | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 6 |
| 15 | Oliver Bearman | GBR | Haas Ferrari | 6 |
| 16 | Isack Hadjar | FRA | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 5 |
| 17 | Fernando Alonso | ESP | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 0 |
| 18 | Liam Lawson | NZL | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 0 |
| 19 | Jack Doohan | AUS | Alpine Renault | 0 |
| 20 | Gabriel Bortoleto | BRA | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 0 |
What did you think about the Miami Grand Prix? Did it exceed your expectations? Let us know in the comments down below!
