F1 Today: Antonelli wins in Miami, Verstappen and Leclerc handed penalties

The Formula 1 calendar resumed with Round 4 in Florida, as the Miami Grand Prix took centre stage. The race weekend, which featured both a Sprint and the Grand Prix, saw a notable upturn in form for several teams, including Red Bull Racing and McLaren. However, when the biggest points were on offer on Sunday, it was Antonelli who rose to the occasion, delivering a well commanding performance to take victory.

The young Italian, who led the Drivers’ Championship heading into the weekend, extended his advantage to 20 points over teammate George Russell after a masterfully executed win in Miami. Antonelli, who had secured pole position, converted what was his third consecutive pole into a race victory.

The 19-year-old finished just over a second ahead of the chasing pack led by Lando Norris. Despite a slightly scruffy start, Antonelli recovered quickly to maintain control of proceedings, capping off another dominant Sunday for Mercedes in what has been a flawless campaign so far. The win also made him the youngest driver in history to convert his first three pole positions into consecutive victories.

While Antonelli and Mercedes left Miami with celebrations, the same could not be said for Verstappen and Leclerc, who were both sanctioned by the stewards.

Verstappen received a five-second penalty after being adjudged to have crossed the white line on pit exit. Leclerc, meanwhile, was hit with a more severe penalty – a drive-through – after the stewards investigated multiple incidents, including cutting the track and gaining an advantage, driving in an unsafe condition, and causing a collision.

Want to stay up to date with the latest events from the F1 paddock? GPblog’s Paddock Update is the place to be.

Follow and subscribe to our channels on Spotify and YouTube so you don’t miss a scoop as the actions and reactions continue across the Formula 1 scene.

Check out the latest episode of our Paddock Update here 👇