Miami Grand Prix: Antonelli Leads as Race Nears Completion
Italian maintains lead over Norris with Verstappen and Leclerc battling for third
L'essentiel
- Kimi Antonelli leads the Miami Grand Prix with 10 laps remaining, ahead of Lando Norris and Max Verstappen.
- The race was moved forward three hours due to storm threats, but rain held off for most of the race.
- Multiple incidents occurred including Gasly's flip after being clipped by Lawson and Hadjar's crash, bringing out the safety car.
Résumé généré par IA
Pourquoi c'est important
This is the first race this season with rain forecast, and the first time seeing how new cars handle wet conditions. The race start was moved forward three hours due to severe thunderstorm warnings in Florida. Lightning within eight miles of the venue would require suspension.
The Miami Grand Prix is approaching its conclusion with Kimi Antonelli leading Lando Norris by approximately two seconds with just 10 laps remaining. The race, which was moved forward three hours due to severe thunderstorm warnings, has seen multiple dramatic moments despite the predicted rain holding off for most of the race.
At the start, Charles Leclerc grabbed the lead from pole-sitter Antonelli, while Max Verstappen spun during the opening lap jostle and dropped to 10th place. Antonelli quickly reclaimed the lead from the Ferrari driver, establishing a comfortable margin.
The race was interrupted by two safety car periods. Isack Hadjar crashed early on, bringing out the first safety car. Then Pierre Gasly flipped his Alpine after being clipped by Liam Lawson - both drivers escaped unharmed. During the chaos, Leclerc briefly regained the lead before Norris passed him.
Verstappen, known for his wet weather prowess, took a gamble by pitting early for hard tyres, hoping the predicted rain would favor those who had already stopped. However, the rain never materialized in significant quantities, and the Dutchman struggled with tyre wear as the race progressed, falling behind both Norris and eventually Leclerc.
Antonelli reported gearbox concerns on team radio around lap 32 but maintained his lead despite the Italian's worries. "My rears are gone," he said at one point, but he continues to lead comfortably.
The current standings with 10 laps to go are: 1) Antonelli 2) Norris 3) Verstappen 4) Leclerc 5) Piastri 6) Russell 7) Hamilton.
The race was originally scheduled for 4pm local time but was moved to 1pm due to Florida's lightning safety protocols, which require outdoor events to stop if there's a lightning strike within eight miles of the venue.
Questions ouvertes
- Will rain actually arrive before race end?
- Will Antonelli's gearbox issues force a retirement?
- Will Verstappen be able to challenge for the podium?
