In an exciting showdown on the Miami International Autodrome built around the Hard Rock Stadium, Oscar Piastri won the 2025 Miami GP, marking his sixth career win and extending his lead in the F1 drivers’ championship. McLaren celebrated a stunning 1-2 finish as Piastri crossed the line, followed closely by his teammate Lando Norris, achieving a historic result despite not qualifying for pole position. George Russell completed the podium for Mercedes, denying Red Bull’s Max Verstappen a top‑three finish after a series of battles on the track.
A Tense Start and Changing Conditions
Contrary to pre‑race expectations of rain, the 2025 Miami GP kicked off under blistering sunshine. With the classic South Florida unpredictability, thermometers hit 104 °F (40 °C), making tire management a challenge. Yet, the FIA’s weather forecast indicated a 30% chance of rain during the session, keeping teams on high alert for a sudden downpour.
Early in the first lap, Verstappen struggled to maintain position off the line, but he held on to his spot despite pressure from Norris. Meanwhile, Alpine’s Jack Doohan reported a puncture following contact with Liam Lawson, triggering yellow‑flag zones, and by Lap 2, the virtual safety car (VSC) was deployed as his car stranded on the racing line.
Mid‑Race Shuffles and Spins
Verstappen led Piastri roughly one second after the opening five laps, with Mercedes duo Russell and rookie Kimi Antonelli lurking behind. Norris, who had started second, slipped back to sixth amidst the mix before rebounding strongly by overtaking both Russell and Antonelli to claim third place.
Lap 10 saw veteran Fernando Alonso spin off and drop to 18th place, while the Verstappen-Piastri duel at the front heated up. Despite Piastri’s pressure, the defending world champion held on until several laps later, when Piastri executed the move to snatch the lead.
Image Source: F1.com
Shortly after, Norris attacked Verstappen but couldn’t force a position change—until lap 17, when Verstappen ran wide battling Norris and fell back a spot. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton outdragged Esteban Ocon in a tense fight for P10, demonstrating that midfield battles were just as fierce.
Pit Stops and Safety Car Interventions
Pit stops began around lap 28. Haas driver Oliver Bearman slowed dramatically with an engine issue, triggering another virtual safety car. Light rain began to fall. Still, conditions never deteriorated enough to force a full safety car or a switch to intermediate tires.
Yuki Tsunoda was investigated for speeding in the pit lane and handed a five‑second time penalty. A few laps later, another VSC was called when Gabriel Bortoleto’s car limped to a stop. Teams scrambled to adjust strategies under these neutralized laps.
Ferrari was having an in-house rivalry: Charles Leclerc was running ahead of Hamilton, who repeatedly asked the team to swap positions. By lap 40, Ferrari finally let Hamilton through to maximize points.
Final Laps: McLaren’s Miami GP Dominance Sealed
As the race reached its closing stages, Ferrari asked Hamilton to yield his spot back to Leclerc on lap 54. Hamilton and Sainz made light contact on the final lap, drawing a steward review but no time penalty.
Image Source: F1.com
Up front, Piastri was cruising about four seconds clear of Norris. The Australian‑born young driver crossed the finish line after 57 laps, delivering McLaren’s second straight win of the season and stamping his authority in Miami. Norris grabbed P2, scoring 18 points, while Russell earned P3 and 15 points.
2025 Miami GP Official Results
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Oscar Piastri (McLaren‑Mercedes) – 57 laps
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Lando Norris (McLaren‑Mercedes) – +4.630 s
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George Russell (Mercedes) – +37.644 s
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Max Verstappen (Red Bull‑Honda) – +39.956 s
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Alexander Albon (Williams‑Mercedes) – +48.067 s
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Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – +55.502 s
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Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +57.036 s
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Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – +1:00.186
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Carlos Sainz (Williams‑Mercedes) – +1:00.577
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Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull‑Honda) – +1:14.434
DNFs: Liam Lawson (lap 36), Gabriel Bortoleto (lap 30), Oliver Bearman (lap 27), Jack Doohan (out before lap 1)
Championship Implications after the 2025 Miami GP
With this result at the 2025 Miami GP, Piastri extends his lead at the top of the drivers’ standings. Norris follows by 16 points, and Verstappen sits in third place with 28 points. McLaren solidifies its advantage in the constructors’ championship, thanks to this one‑two haul, leaving Mercedes and Red Bull chasing.
The F1 circus heads back to Europe for the seventh round of the season in Imola from May 16-18. Teams will battle the iconic Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari.
The heat of Miami didn’t bring rain, but it did bring fireworks—and if this keeps up, the 2025 season might be the year McLaren reclaims the throne.
