Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli won the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, his third victory of the season, repeating a unique achievement in the world championship.
Antonelli won qualifying ahead of four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. This pole position was his third of the season – before that, the 19-year-old Italian did the same in the previous two Grands Prix, as a result of which he repeated the record of the legends Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna.
Antonelli managed to hold on to the lead throughout the race. After a tense battle with Verstappen and Leclerc in the early part of the race, the Italian regained the lead on lap 29, and held on to it until the very end.
In the end, Antonelli won his third consecutive Grand Prix, having never won a race in his career before. This gave the 19-year-old Italian became the youngest driver in racing history to win his first three consecutive races.
Only two drivers in the history of Formula 1 have managed to do this before. Damon Hill achieved the feat in 1993, followed by Miki Hakkinen in 1997-1998.
“This is just the beginning, there's still a long way to go. But we're working really hard, the team is doing an incredible job, and without them I wouldn't be here – so it's mainly thanks to them and my family. I'm going to enjoy [the victory] and then get back to work because the Canadian Grand Prix is in two weeks,” Antonelli was quoted as saying by the official Formula 1 website.
After the victory, Antonelli maintained his lead in the drivers' standings, increasing his gap to his teammate Russell – the Italian has 100 points to his credit.
Formula 1 drivers' standings: top 5
- 1. Andrea Kimi Antonelli (“Mercedes”) – 100 points
- 2. George Russell (“Mercedes”) — 80
- 3. Charles Leclerc (“Ferrari”) – 59
- 4-5. Lando Norris (“McLaren”) — 51
- 4-5. Lewis Hamilton (“Ferrari”) – 51
Andrea Kimi Antonelli celebrates her victory in Miami. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
The next Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place on Sunday, May 24, in Canada.