Antonelli claims third consecutive F1 win at Miami Grand Prix
Championsip leader Kimi Antonelli overcame a suboptimal start to win his third consecutive Formula One race this season at the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday. The Mercedes driver started from pole position, but had a slow reaction once the lights went out and was overtaken by the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc and the Red Bull of Max Verstappen. But throughout the race, the Italian fought back and retook first place for good on lap 29.
Antonelli struggled with his rear tyres, but managed to hold off defending champion Lando Norris in the McLaren. "The start was not as bad as yesterday, it was a bit better," he said referring to Saturday's sprint race, in which he started in second, but didn't get away particularly well and lost positions. He eventually finished fourth, but was demoted to sixth after a penalty.
"The team did a great strategy. We did a massive undercut and we managed to bring it home even though it was not easy. " Antonelli became the first driver to convert his first three pole positions into wins.
"This is just the beginning. The road is still long. We are working super hard and the team is doing an incredible job," he said.
Norris, who won the sprint race on Saturday, finished in second, claiming his first podium at a Grand Prix this year. Team-mate Oscar Piastri clinched third place after overtaking Leclerc in the final lap. The race Antonelli's slow start left him sandwiched between Leclerc and Verstappen.