The 2025 Miami Grand Prix Sprint Race delivered everything Formula 1 fans could ask for: record-breaking milestones, high-stakes battles, and relentless chaos from lights to flag.
In a rain-soaked thriller at the Miami International Autodrome, McLaren’s Lando Norris emerged victorious after a dramatic late shuffle, while 18-year-old Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli etched his name into the history books.
Antonelli Makes History – Before the Storm Hits
Saturday belonged to Antonelli—at least at the start. The young Italian sensation stunned the paddock by becoming the youngest-ever Formula 1 driver to score a pole position in any format, edging out Oscar Piastri in a wet Sprint Qualifying shootout.
Antonelli and Piastri’s front row was backed by Lando Norris and reigning world champion Max Verstappen, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown.
But just as the grid formed up, nature had other plans. Torrential rain lashed the Miami circuit, transforming it into a treacherous river of uncertainty.
Charles Leclerc’s Sprint ended before it even began, as he aquaplaned into the barriers en route to the grid—a victim of the decision to start the formation lap on intermediate tyres despite full-wet conditions.
Carlos Sainz, the only driver on full wets, appeared to have made the smarter call early on.
Visibility was nearly non-existent, with plumes of spray engulfing the track.Oscar Piastri’s radio summed it up:
“This is genuinely the worst visibility I’ve had.”
A red flag was inevitable, and after two formation laps behind the Safety Car, the Sprint was suspended for 20 minutes.
Lights Out – And It’s Mayhem
When the race finally restarted with a standing start, it was a 16-lap dash to the finish. Piastri took full advantage of the drier line, diving into Turn 1 with conviction. On the outside, Antonelli went wide and claimed over the radio that Piastri had forced him off.
However, the stewards swiftly deemed no further action was necessary—Piastri had the inside line and was marginally ahead.
The order shook up quickly: Liam Lawson made a lightning start from 14th to 9th, while Antonelli slipped to fourth behind Piastri, Norris, and Verstappen.
George Russell held fifth, and behind them, Lewis Hamilton was wrestling with a disobedient Ferrari, declaring, “The car won’t turn.”
The chaos extended beyond the circuit. Verstappen was noted for a potential false start, but no action was taken despite footage showing the Red Bull’s front wheels outside and ahead of the yellow lines.
Verstappen and Lawson also reported visor visibility issues, with the Dutchman particularly vocal:
“My visor is absolutely s***. I have no visibility.”
Yuki Tsunoda was the first to gamble on dry tyres, switching to mediums. Hamilton, Sainz, and Stroll followed soon after, opting for softs. But in the pit lane frenzy, disaster struck for two frontrunners.
Pit Lane Chaos and a Game-Changing Collision
As Antonelli peeled into the pits for a tyre change, Red Bull released Verstappen into his path. The two made contact, and debris flew. The Mercedes was forced to abandon its stop entirely, continuing to the pit exit before finally servicing on the next lap.
It was a pivotal moment that would come back to haunt Verstappen.
Meanwhile, Lawson dived into the pits from 8th and rejoined the action down in 12th.
Out on track, Carlos Sainz clipped the wall at Turns 13 and 14, sustaining a race-ending puncture and heartbreaking damage to the Williams car.
Tsunoda, now on the right tyre at the right time, clocked the fastest lap while others scrambled to adapt to ever-changing conditions.
At the front, Piastri briefly reclaimed the lead following his pit stop, emerging just ahead of Verstappen. But a revitalised Hamilton made a decisive move on Verstappen, powering through to take third—a thrilling duel between world champions.
Late Drama: Collision, Safety Car, and a Stunning Finish
With three laps remaining, the drama crescendoed. Fernando Alonso and Liam Lawson tangled in a heated battle, ending with the Aston Martin spearing into the barriers. An incident that would cause controversy and heartbreak for the Kiwi.
The Safety Car was deployed, triggering a last-minute strategy roll of the dice. McLaren timing a pit stop for Norris perfectly, boxing the Briton just as the caution came out. In a masterstroke, he rejoined as race leader—leapfrogging Piastri and Hamilton.
As the race finished behind the Safety Car, Norris claimed his first victory since the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
Piastri settled for second, with Hamilton securing third—an impressive salvage job in a race where his teammate Leclerc crashed out before the lights went out.
Post-Race Penalties Reshape the Final Order
There was more drama still to come. Verstappen was handed a 10-second penalty for the unsafe release that compromised Antonelli’s pit stop. The punishment dropped the Dutchman from fourth to 17th in a brutal blow to his championship lead.
Further penalties dropped Alex Albon, Liam Lawson, and Oliver Bearman out of the points-paying positions.
Albon was penalised for failing to maintain the Safety Car delta, while Lawson was deemed at fault for the Alonso incident and given a 5-second penalty. The penalty deprived the Kiwi of his first two championship points this season and relegated him from 7th to 13th.
The penalty left Kiwi and Formula fans fiery, with mixed opinions filling up social media.
“He came out on cold tyres, and I’d done a lap. I was trying to get by him early in the lap,” said Lawson post-race
“I waited for DRS, made sure to get my wheels ahead a the apex trying to overtake. I feel I did that, then I got squeezed off.
“At that point I was heading for the concrete wall. I was trying to get out, but he left me no space. Obviously [it’s] not my intention, but I feel like I had my wheels ahead.”
The FIA has released the following clarification on the decision:
“Car 30 was attempting an overtake on the outside of Car 14 into Turn 11. Although being able to pull fully alongside, the front axle of Car 30 was not ahead of the front axle of Car 14 at the apex as required per the Driving Standards Guidelines. Therefore Car 30 was not entitled to be given room at the exit. Due to the layout of the track, the car which has the right to the racing line in Turn 11 also has the right to the racing line in Turn 12.
“Car 30 drove to the very edge of the track between Turns 11 and 12 and collided with Car 14 on the approach to Turn 12. The Stewards determine that Car 30 was predominantly at fault and therefore consider a 5 seconds penalty to be appropriate taking into account the track conditions.”
Bearman’s unsafe release cost him dearly, as he was also handed down a 5-second penalty.
After all penalties were applied, George Russell was promoted to fourth, with Lance Stroll taking fifth in a well-executed recovery drive. Tsunoda, Antonelli, and Gasly completed the adjusted top eight, giving the young Italian his first Sprint points in a bittersweet end to his historic day.
Sprint Race – Final Points Classification (After Penalties):
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
- George Russell (Mercedes)
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
- Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
With wild weather, fierce wheel-to-wheel racing, and controversy at every turn, the 2025 Miami Sprint was a jaw-dropping spectacle—and with Sunday’s Grand Prix still to come, the chaos may just be getting started. The Grand Prix is set to go green at 8 AM Monday NZT.
Header Image: Red Bull Content Pool
