Oscar Piastri delivered a commanding performance at the Miami Grand Prix, turning a fourth-place start into a sensational victory and cementing his status as a leading contender for the Formula 1 world championship. Displaying skill, composure, and a relentless drive, Piastri took control of the race early and never looked back, claiming his fourth win of the season in dominant fashion.
The McLaren driver had narrowly missed out on victory in the sprint race the day before but made no mistake in the main event. Teaming up with Lando Norris for a one-two finish, the pair showcased the team’s superior race pace, with Norris finishing second and George Russell taking third for Mercedes. Max Verstappen, who started from pole, was unable to hold his lead and crossed the line in fourth, while Alex Albon secured a remarkable fifth for Williams.
The start of the race proved decisive. Norris’s hopes were dented almost immediately after going wheel-to-wheel with Verstappen and being forced wide, dropping him to sixth. Piastri, meanwhile, capitalized on the chaos, moving into contention and soon overtaking Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli before setting his sights on Verstappen. After a gripping battle, Piastri made his move on lap 14, taking the lead at turn one. Norris caught up and eventually passed Verstappen too, but the delay allowed Piastri to build a nine-second cushion that proved insurmountable.
McLaren’s dominance was evident throughout the race, with both drivers easily pulling away from the rest of the field once in clean air. Piastri eventually crossed the line 37 seconds ahead of third-placed Russell, underlining the car’s performance edge and his own growing confidence behind the wheel.
Piastri’s transformation since debuting in F1 has been remarkable. Reflecting on McLaren’s turnaround, he recalled that just two years ago in Miami, they were among the slowest teams on the grid. Now, they’re setting the pace. His control, speed, and strategic awareness marked him as a formidable title contender. With this victory, he now leads the drivers’ standings by 16 points over Norris and 32 over Verstappen.
Norris expressed his frustration over the early incident with Verstappen, calling it a no-win situation where he risked either criticism or a crash. The clash was deemed a racing incident, but it clearly impacted Norris’s race outcome, even as he recovered well to finish second.
Elsewhere, Lewis Hamilton endured another frustrating outing for Ferrari. Despite briefly being let through by teammate Charles Leclerc to chase down the Williams of Carlos Sainz, Hamilton’s frustrations with the team boiled over on the radio. Sarcastic and exasperated remarks revealed ongoing tensions, and he eventually had to give the place back, finishing eighth.
Red Bull, meanwhile, protested the result, claiming Russell had failed to slow under yellow flags during a virtual safety car period. The stewards reviewed the claim but dismissed it, allowing the result to stand.
Adding a touch of Miami flair, the drivers participated in a pre-race parade using life-sized Lego versions of their cars, a playful contrast to the intensity of the race itself. But when the lights went out, it was clear that Piastri and McLaren were all business. With their car proving consistently fast and easy on tyres, and Piastri showing new mastery in areas where he once lagged behind Norris, the championship is increasingly his to lose.
