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Lando Norris could have been in contention for the win at the Miami Grand Prix, but in the end he was powerless against Kimi Antonelli's Mercedes.
The opportunity was there. And that's perhaps what's most frustrating for Lando Norris.
Finishing second behind Kimi Antonelli, the McLaren driver leaves Miami with mixed feelings: that of a solid weekend… but of a victory let slip away due to minor details.
A race decided in the pits
On the track, Norris did not disappoint. Fast, consistent, and capable of putting pressure on Antonelli—especially after the safety car phase—the Brit clearly had what it took to contend for the win.
But the key moment played out in the pit lane.
Pitting one lap after Antonelli, Norris emerged behind the Mercedes. A perfectly executed undercut by the German team… and a missed opportunity for McLaren.
The assessment is blunt: “A mixed bag, really. We got overtaken. There's no other excuse. We got overtaken; we should have pitted first. Kimi did a good job—hats off to Mercedes and Kimi—they had a great race.”
Antonelli solid, Norris powerless
Once behind, Norris gave it his all. Relentlessly. But as is often the case in Miami, overtaking remains a tricky business, even with the boost.
“With these long braking zones and these cars, it's easy to make mistakes, but he didn't make any big enough for me to capitalize on.”
Antonelli didn't let anything slip by. Clean, precise, flawless. The result: a 3.264-second gap at the finish line… and a victory that slipped away from McLaren.
“I'm gutted not to have won here in Miami. I think it was possible today, but I didn't have the pace to overtake him at the end. We'll take it, and it's still a positive weekend overall.”
A race of execution… and management
In such a tactical race, involving battery management, recovery phases, and tricky conditions, Norris highlights a key point: don't make mistakes.
“You always have to be tactical with battery management; it's easy to get caught up in poor management and get caught off guard. But other than that, I think I did a good job, and the team did a good job all weekend, so I'm proud of everyone.”
A clear-headed, almost clinical assessment. McLaren was good… but not perfect. And against a surgical-precision Mercedes, there's no room for error.
Piastri saves the weekend
On the other side of the garage, Oscar Piastri added a more upbeat note to the story. Long at the heart of the battles, particularly against Leclerc in a high-tension finale, the Australian secured a well-deserved podium finish by overtaking the Ferrari in the final moments.
“This weekend wasn't the easiest. I think yesterday's qualifying was a bit chaotic for both of us [McLaren drivers], but the pace seemed more encouraging today.”
“I had to make a few passes, and obviously the end of the race came down to a final sprint, but it's really very technical here, especially in these conditions. Thanks to the team. Clearly, we're performing better again, and that's encouraging.”
A podium finish that confirms McLaren's resurgence.
McLaren back in the game
Beyond the raw result—a one-two finish—the message is clear: McLaren is back in the fight. Thanks to the innovations made during the long break since the Japanese Grand Prix. “I think this weekend we've shown that if we take the lead in the race, we can hold onto it.”
“We were close in Japan, but we've clearly made progress, and I hope that in Canada, we can take another step forward. I'm eager to see what the future holds.”
