Kimi Antonelli won the 2026 Miami Grand Prix, marking his third consecutive victory in his Formula 1 career. This achievement comes after back-to-back wins in China and Japan.
Toto Wolff commented on Antonelli’s performance, saying, “He did a Kimi,” referring to a mistake made during the final Q3 lap. Despite this, Antonelli currently leads the F1 drivers’ standings.
Mercedes faced challenges in Miami, bringing just two updated parts to the race. Competitors like McLaren and Ferrari introduced more significant upgrades.
Wolff admitted that Mercedes is out of sync with their rivals regarding upgrade schedules. He noted, “We know that we are a little out of sync with our upgrades compared to other teams.” This situation places them at a disadvantage in the ongoing development race.
Despite these hurdles, Wolff remains cautiously optimistic about Antonelli’s future. He stated, “I hope he can continue on this positive slope. Most important is not to be carried away.” The team is aware that this season will be a pure development race.
Antonelli made history by converting each of his first three consecutive pole positions into race wins. This remarkable feat underscores his potential as an emerging star in Formula 1.
Mercedes struggled during the Miami sprint race, failing to secure a front-row lockout or place a car in the top three. The next races will be critical for the team as they aim to catch up with their competitors.
The pressure is mounting as teams prepare for upcoming events, with every tenth of a second proving crucial for success.