Antonelli wins, but the post-race changes the outcome: penalties for two big names reshape the final result!
Andrea Kimi Antonelli wins the Miami GP, giving Mercedes a crucial victory as Formula 1 returns after a month-long break: the young Italian is, for now, dominating the 2026 championship.
But while the race on track was already chaotic — with spins, safety cars, contacts and even flipped cars — the post-race brought further twists, with the FIA stewards at the center of multiple investigations involving top drivers such as Charles Leclerc, George Russell and Max Verstappen.
Post-race penalties in Miami
Two decisions ultimately changed the final classification: Max Verstappen received a 5-second penalty for crossing the white line on pit exit, an infringement that would have dropped him one position (and we’ll explain why the conditional is important).
A much heavier penalty, however, was given to Charles Leclerc: 20 seconds added to his race time for repeatedly leaving the track and gaining an advantage, with a damaged car after contact with the barriers.
The Monégasque driver, who had finished sixth (and would have moved up to fifth due to Verstappen’s penalty), drops to eighth place. George Russell, on the other hand, has been cleared after initially being investigated for moving under braking during a battle: the stewards judged it a normal racing incident. Finally, with Leclerc’s penalty, Max Verstappen effectively regains his original position.
Final classification of the 2026 Miami GP
- Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes – 1:33:19.273
- Lando Norris – McLaren – +3.264s
- Oscar Piastri – McLaren – +27.092s
- George Russell – Mercedes – +43.051s
- Max Verstappen – Red Bull – +48.949s (PENALTY)
- Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari – +53.753s
- Franco Colapinto – Alpine – +61.871s
- Charles Leclerc – Ferrari – +64.245s (PENALTY)
- Carlos Sainz – Williams – +82.072s
- Alexander Albon – Williams – +90.972s
- Oliver Bearman – Haas
- Gabriel Bortoleto – Audi
- Esteban Ocon – Haas
- Arvid Lindblad – Racing Bulls
- Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin
- Sergio Perez – Cadillac
- Lance Stroll – Aston Martin
- Valtteri Bottas – Cadillac
- Nico Hulkenberg – Audi – DNF
- Liam Lawson – Racing Bulls – DNF
- Pierre Gasly – Alpine – DNF
- Isack Hadjar – Red Bull – DNF
Photos: Formula 1
