Oscar Piastri claims fourth victory of season with commanding win at F1 Miami Grand Prix

The streets of Miami witnessed a display of tactical brilliance, fierce wheel-to-wheel action, and a compelling shift in the Formula 1 title narrative, as McLaren’s Oscar Piastri stormed to a spectacular victory at the Hard Rock Stadium. In a race that began with uncertainty and tension, the 23-year-old Australian delivered a commanding performance that now places him firmly in the spotlight as the championship frontrunner.

Starting from fourth on the grid, Oscar Piastri’s race was a masterclass in composure, racecraft, and tire management. While the weekend had begun with the disappointment of missing out on the sprint race win, Sunday was an entirely different story. He executed a calculated drive, passing Kimi Antonelli and then engaging in a gripping duel with Max Verstappen before ultimately pulling away. Once clear, he never looked back. His final margin over Mercedes' George Russell was an astonishing 37 seconds, with teammate Lando Norris trailing just behind in second.

It was a moment that echoed the determination and grit associated with the classic Australian racing spirit. As Piastri reflected after the race, “I remember two years ago in Miami we were genuinely the slowest team, I think we got lapped twice. To now have won the grand prix by over 35 seconds to third is an unbelievable result.”
Norris, who was forced wide by Verstappen in a dramatic first-lap clash, tumbled down to sixth but battled back with sheer resilience. The incident, which was judged a racing incident, cost him crucial time. “Max put up a good fight, and I just paid the price,” said Norris. “If I don’t go for it, people complain. If I go for it, people complain. With Max it’s crash or don’t pass, and I just had to get him in the right position.” Despite his valiant chase, the gap Piastri built post-pass proved insurmountable.

Verstappen, meanwhile, endured an uncharacteristically frustrating outing. After starting on pole, he struggled to maintain race pace and ultimately finished fourth, sandwiched behind Russell and both McLaren drivers. A poorly timed virtual safety car also allowed Russell to leapfrog him, adding further salt to Red Bull’s wounds. Though he initially tried to pressure the Mercedes man, Verstappen couldn’t close the gap and was left fending off the midfield rather than challenging at the front.

Ferrari's struggles continued, with Lewis Hamilton finishing a lackluster eighth after yet another tense exchange over team radio. At one point, Hamilton sarcastically quipped, “Have a tea break while you’re at it,” after being held up behind Charles Leclerc. The strategy confusion and internal miscommunication continue to plague the Scuderia as they drift further from podium contention.
But this was McLaren’s day through and through. With four wins in six races and three back-to-back victories, Piastri now leads the standings by 16 points over Norris, with Verstappen a further 16 adrift. More significantly, Piastri has seemingly erased any doubts about his ability to match Norris in qualifying and tire conservation—areas once seen as his weaknesses.
In a sport often defined by margins and moments, Miami was a declaration. Piastri didn’t just win; he controlled the narrative, the strategy, and the tempo. As Formula 1 moves to Europe, beginning with the Imola Grand Prix, the championship has a new face at the top—and it's one that looks increasingly difficult to dethrone.
Also Read: Miami Grand Prix 2025 Qualifying results: Max Verstappen wins pole position, Kimi Antonelli grabs third spot