Italian teenager wins Miami Grand Prix against favourite Norris

Kimi Antonelli is mobbed by his backstage

Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli held off McLaren’s Lando Norris in a race-long battle to win the Miami Grand Prix and take a commanding championship lead.

The 19-year-old Italian’s third win in a row moves him 20 points - not far from a clear win - ahead of team-mate George Russell, who finished fourth on Sunday, behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.

Antonelli prevailed in a gripping race, initially staging a three-car fight also including Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc before the race distilled down to a tussle between the Mercedes and Norris.

The long-threatened rain, which caused the race start to be brought forward by three hours, never materialised, apart from a few spots mid-race, and the grand prix ran its distance in dry conditions.

“This is just the beginning. The road is still long. We are working super hard and the team is doing an incredible job,” Antonelli said.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen recovered from a first-lap spin to finish fifth.

He was given a five-second penalty after the race for crossing the white line as he exited the pits, but it did not affect his position.

Separately, he and Russell were cleared by the stewards after minor contact between them.

Leclerc finished sixth but was given a 20-second penalty for leaving the track multiple times on the final lap after he hit a wall and damaged his car.

The penalty dropped him to eighth and promoted team-mate Lewis Hamilton from seventh to sixth. (BBC sport)

Kimi Antonelli