McLaren Crushes the Competition in Miami as Piastri Takes Commanding Win
Oscar Piastri clinches his fourth win of the season ahead of teammate Lando Norris, as McLaren dominate the Formula 1 2025 Miami Grand Prix.
Race Report
McLaren’s Miami Masterclass
Oscar Piastri delivered a near-flawless performance to secure his fourth victory of the Formula 1 2025 season at the Miami Grand Prix, leading home a sensational 1-2 finish for McLaren. Teammate Lando Norris finished second, while George Russell completed the podium for Mercedes, a distant 37 seconds behind Piastri.
Piastri’s win cements his position atop the Drivers’ Championship standings and underlines McLaren’s transformation into a championship-contending force. The team’s papaya-liveried cars looked untouchable all race, showcasing both raw speed and strategic prowess.
Drama at the Start: Verstappen’s Pole Slips Away
The drama began right at lights out. Max Verstappen led from pole but locked up into Turn 1, opening the door for Norris, Piastri, and Kimi Antonelli. A clash between Verstappen and Norris sent the Briton wide, dropping him down the order and allowing Antonelli and Piastri through.
Further back, Alpine’s Jack Doohan collided with Liam Lawson, ending his race on Lap 1 and triggering an early Virtual Safety Car (VSC). While Lawson limped on, Doohan became the day’s first retirement.
Piastri Charges, Verstappen Fades
Once racing resumed, Piastri quickly dispatched Antonelli and began reeling in Verstappen. By Lap 14, the Australian capitalized on a mistake from the Red Bull driver and seized the lead. Norris followed suit shortly after, battling Verstappen in a feisty exchange before reclaiming second place.
As Norris and Piastri pulled away, Verstappen was left vulnerable. Mercedes’ George Russell took advantage of a VSC-triggered pit window to leapfrog into third, while Verstappen, struggling for grip and balance, settled for fourth.
Midfield Battles and Ferrari Frustrations
Behind the leaders, the midfield delivered plenty of action. Alex Albon impressed with a P5 finish for Williams, while Antonelli came home sixth for Mercedes after an early charge faded post-pit stop.
Ferrari’s intra-team squabble added more late-race drama. A lengthy debate over team orders saw Lewis Hamilton briefly get ahead of Charles Leclerc, only for the positions to be reversed near the end. Hamilton, running medium tyres versus Leclerc’s hards, voiced his frustration over radio: “Have a tea break while you’re at it.”
Rain Threats and Strategy Shuffles
Intermittent rain threats added complexity to strategy, but the much-feared downpour never materialized. Most teams opted for one-stop strategies, with McLaren executing a flawless double-stack pit stop under VSC conditions triggered by Ollie Bearman’s stranded Haas.
Further retirements included Gabriel Bortoleto, Lawson, and Doohan. Several incidents, including Carlos Sainz’s late move on Hamilton and yellow flag infringements by Sainz and Pierre Gasly, remain under post-race investigation.
Final Results and Standings Impact
McLaren’s commanding performance left rivals scrambling for answers. Piastri’s 4.63-second win over Norris marks his fourth of the season and strengthens his title ambitions. George Russell’s third place was Mercedes’ consolation, while Verstappen’s fourth extended his winless streak in Miami – no polesitter has ever won at this venue.
Formula 1 2025 Miami Grand Prix Race Results:
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1:28:51.587
- Lando Norris (McLaren) : +4.630s
- George Russell (Mercedes) : +37.644s
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) : +39.956s
- Alex Albon (Williams) : +48.067s
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) : +55.502s
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) : +57.036s
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) : +60.186s
- Carlos Sainz (Williams) : +60.577s
- Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) : +74.434s
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) : +74.602s
- Esteban Ocon (Haas) : +82.006s
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine) : +90.445s
- Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) : +1 lap
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) : +1 lap
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) : +1 lap
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – DNF
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) – DNF
- Oliver Bearman (Haas) – DNF
- Jack Doohan (Alpine) – DNF
What’s Next?
With the European leg of the season fast approaching, all eyes will be on whether Red Bull can respond or if McLaren’s Miami triumph signals a new order in Formula 1. As Piastri tightens his grip on the title race, the momentum is firmly with the papaya squad.
