F1 2026 Miami GP: Antonelli's hat-trick headlines driver ratings

Kimi Antonelli secured a historic third consecutive Formula 1 victory from pole position at the 2026 Miami Grand Prix, extending his championship lead to 20 points in a dominant display. Lando Norris broke Mercedes' early-season stranglehold by winning the Sprint race, while Max Verstappen showed signs of a Red Bull resurgence despite a race-ending spin. The weekend also highlighted struggles for Mercedes veterans and a costly error for rookie Isack Hadjar.

Why it matters:

Antonelli's flawless performance cements his status as a serious title contender in his sophomore season, putting immense pressure on established champions. Norris's Sprint victory proves McLaren can challenge Mercedes on pure pace, signaling a potential shift in the competitive order. For Red Bull, Verstappen's competitive qualifying pace offers a crucial glimmer of hope after a difficult start to the new regulatory era.

The details:

• Top Performers: Antonelli (9/10) was described as "sublime" and error-free, bouncing back from a tough Sprint to dominate the Grand Prix. Norris (9/10) claimed his first Sprint pole and win of the season, following it with a strong second place on Sunday. Williams' Franco Colapinto (9/10) earned a career-best seventh, outperforming teammate Pierre Gasly.
• Strong Contenders: Max Verstappen (8/10) qualified an impressive second, showing Red Bull's best pace of 2026, but a spin at Turn 2 ended his race. Oscar Piastri (8/10) secured a double podium weekend (P2 in Sprint, P3 in GP) but noted a consistent one-lap deficit to Norris.
• Midfield Mix: Charles Leclerc (8/10) and Carlos Sainz (7.5/10) had solid points finishes for Ferrari. Alex Albon (7.5/10) continued his consistent form for Aston Martin.
• Struggling Stars: Both Mercedes drivers, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, received a 5/10. Russell was "comfortably slower" than Antonelli, while Hamilton sustained damage on lap one and was never in top-five contention.
• Weekend to Forget: Rookie Arvid Lindblad (4.5/10) struggled for pace. Nico Hülkenberg (4/10) failed to start the Sprint and retired early from the GP. Isack Hadjar (3.5/10) crashed out early, marking his worst weekend of the season with a "furious physical outburst" after the mistake.

What's next:

The championship moves to Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix, where Antonelli will aim to extend his winning streak and commanding lead. Mercedes drivers Russell and Hamilton are under pressure to deliver a "bounce-back performance," while all eyes will be on whether Red Bull's improved one-lap speed in Miami translates into a full-race challenge. For drivers like Colapinto, the task is to build on a breakthrough result and establish consistency in the midfield battle.