F1 Results: Miami masterclass puts Piastri in charge of title race

Oscar Piastri delivered a "masterful performance" at the Miami Grand Prix, the sixth race of the 2025 Formula 1 season, securing a dominant victory that propelled him firmly into the position of championship frontrunner. The McLaren driver, starting from fourth on the grid, executed a race of "relentlessly controlled dominance" to take the win, leading a commanding 1-2 finish for the team ahead of teammate Lando Norris in second place.

The scale of McLaren's advantage in Miami was "breathtaking," with Piastri finishing a massive 37 seconds ahead of George Russell in the Mercedes, who took third place. Max Verstappen, starting from pole position, could only manage fourth for Red Bull. Alex Albon secured a superb fifth place for Williams.

The race start saw Verstappen initially hold the lead, but a close wheel-to-wheel moment with Lando Norris at Turn 1, judged a racing incident, sent Norris off track and dropped him to sixth place. Piastri navigated the opening laps cleanly and, after passing Kimi Antonelli, set off in pursuit of the world champion. Piastri and Verstappen then duelled for several laps before the Australian made his move stick on Lap 14 at Turn 1 to take the lead.

Norris, recovering from his costly opening lap incident, then found himself delayed behind Verstappen for another four laps. This delay allowed Piastri to build a crucial nine-second gap, which proved impossible for Norris to overcome, despite McLaren's superior race pace being evident throughout the field. Norris later commented on the challenge, suggesting that passing Verstappen often requires being in "the right position" to avoid issues.

Now it's getting serious...

Piastri's victory, his first in Miami and his remarkable fourth win this season (and third overall in F1), significantly impacted the championship standings. After gathering 131 points, he now leads Lando Norris by 16 points. Max Verstappen trailing in third place, 32 points behind. This dominant performance from fourth on the grid, coupled with his improved mastery of qualifying and tyre management this season (areas he reportedly lagged behind Norris last year), suggests Piastri now has all the "building blocks in place for a serious tilt at the title" and might now be considered the favorite.

While McLaren celebrated, Lewis Hamilton had a "somewhat trying afternoon" for Ferrari, finishing eighth. His race was marked by "testy run-ins" over the radio with his team regarding strategy, highlighting unresolved development needed in his relationship with the Scuderia despite moments like teammate Charles Leclerc letting him past temporarily. Red Bull did file a protest after the race concerning George Russell's driving under yellow flags, but it was rejected.

The Miami Grand Prix also featured unique pre-race spectacle, including drivers parading in large Lego car replicas. However, once the serious competition began, Piastri and McLaren demonstrated they were very much the "class of the field" with their dominant pace and tyre management. The season continues with the next race, the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, scheduled for May 18th.