Kimi Antonelli is proving a mighty massive thorn in Mercedes team-mate George Russell’s F1 world-title hopes – he has the momentum and this Miami Grand Prix win may very well be a harbinger of issues to return, writes JONATHAN McEVOY

You heard about the lightning threatening Formula One’s swanky, gawdy Miami Grand Prix. They arrived early, at 7.15am, the Atlantic falling out of the sky as thunderclaps acted as the paddock’s alarm call.

The storm cleared and the race was dry, but concerns surrounded a longer-term forecast, namely the one that this would be George Russell‘s championship year. It still should be, but he has a mighty big thorn in his race overalls in the form of Sunday’s winner Kimi Antonelli.

And not only this weekend’s winner. The victor in the last three races. That is three of the four this season, and for now the momentum is with the 19-year-old Italian, who drove with great maturity and pace in hot conditions, hounded and tested by runner-up, McLaren’s world champion Lando Norris.

At the end, Antonelli won by 3.2sec. Oscar Piastri, with a battling drive in the other papaya car, was third. Russell finished fourth and is now 20 points back from the ingenue to whom he was meant to offer mentorship. Ha, if we are naive enough to think it ever works that generous-spirited way in Formula One.

This Hard Rock Stadium track is not one Russell likes, so perhaps this should be filed as a minor setback. Perhaps, though, it is a harbinger of things to come.

For now Antonelli is in good company. The last Italian to win a trio of consecutive races was Alberto Ascari in 1952, and he was the legend who helped set ablaze that country’s post-War love of motorsport.

Kimi Antonelli won the Miami Grand Prix to strengthen his grip at the top of the F1 standings 

Mercedes’ starlet crossed the finished line in first with Lionel Messi waving the chequered flag

If the winner’s identity was not greatly unexpected – Antonelli started from pole – the fact no rain of note fell was. Credit to Formula One’s bosses for advancing the start time as a precaution against threats of a thunderstorm (which may yet be proved right later on Sunday here). Florida state law would have decreed the race off if lightning had struck within eight miles.

It was helter-skelter even without rain. The start itself saw a three-abreast fight. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was in the middle of an Antonelli-Verstappen sandwich, before cutting inside the pair, as they both ran wide, to seize the early advantage.

It was a fine piece of instinctive opportunism from the Monegasque, aided by the engineering advantage Ferrari enjoy off the line. Antonelli detoured off track, while Verstappen attacked the throttle not willing to cede his place. The sort of animal ferocity that typifies him.

But this time he called it wrong and spun. He was fortunate not to find himself pinballed by the on-rushing traffic. He fell down the field. ‘Sorry, guys,’ he sighed.

Up front, Leclerc was harried by Antonelli before being overtaken on lap four. The favour was returned moments later. A sarcastic hurrah for yo-yo racing in 2026!

Then two shunts shook things up. First, Isack Hadjar grazed the wall at the chicane, an unsettling kiss that sent him into the wall on the outside. He thumped the steering wheel in frustration. It was a disappointing weekend for him.

More dramatically, Pierre Gasly was clipped by Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson. This sent his Alpine somersaulting over, engine over front wing, and left him perched in the barrier at Turn 17 the right way up. The Frenchman walked away from the smash.

The safety car was deployed as the track was cleared. Norris, who started fourth, was flying in a very brisk McLaren and took the lead from Leclerc on lap 13.

George Russell is the favourite to win the 2026 F1 world title this year, but Antonelli is in form

All the time, warnings of incoming rain were aired. Norris, meanwhile, kept himself ahead, while others expressed their own gripes.

Russell, in a sign of his frustration, upbraided his garage buddies. ‘I’m on the wrong f****** strats (engine mapping). Keep an eye on it.’

Leclerc was unhappy to be first of the leaders to pit and made some sulphurous remarks. ‘Next time you make a decision speak to me – I am here as well,’ he insisted, though his last-lap spin that reduced him to a fifth-place finish was an even more damaging error.

All the time, nudging his way up – no, barging his way there – was Verstappen, who pitted under the Hadjar/Gasly safety car and then drove with great elan in a Red Bull that is improved over the five-week break in racing but not a true match for the top three of Mercedes, McLaren, Ferrari – in that order.

He needed a timely rain shower to help him orchestrate an unlikely victory. He finished fifth.

Lando Norris finished second for McLaren as he continues his quest for a second-straight title

Anyway, in the contest among the most likely winners, Mercedes pitted Antonelli, then lying second, a lap before McLaren brought in Norris. The result of the rebooting was that Antonelli took the lead, running a fraction ahead of Norris as he re emerged from the pits. It was decisive. It won him the race.

The action at the front was still tight. Norris posed relentless question marks against Antonelli lap after lap.

He was within a second of the Mercedes man, sometimes closer, and the young leader’s nerves were perhaps fraying, not in that he betrayed them in the impressive way he drove but in his dialogue with the pit wall. ‘Gearbox!’ he exclaimed. ‘I have a problem with the paddle.’ And then he fretted about his tyres. Race engineer Peter Bonington’s experienced voice of calm reassured his protege that all was well.

Quietly, impressively, Antonelli inched himself sufficiently ahead, withstanding Norris’ close attentions for more than 30 laps. It was impressive, no question, and Russell knows that better than anyone else.