The 2025 Miami Grand PrixTM delivered a weekend of high drama, strategic masterstrokes, and mounting tensions—especially within the Ferrari camp. While McLaren celebrated a dominant one-two finish, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton found themselves embroiled in intense internal competition and performance woes.
McLaren’s Masterclass: Piastri’s Hat-Trick Victory
Oscar Piastri secured his third consecutive Grand PrixTM win and fourth of the season. Starting from fourth on the grid, Piastri executed a strategic overtake on Max Verstappen by lap 14 and maintained a commanding lead to the finish. Teammate Lando Norris, despite early contact with Verstappen, recovered to claim second place, marking McLaren’s second one-two finish of the season. George Russell completed the podium for Mercedes, while disappointed Verstappen, having had the advantage of pole, had to settle for fourth after a challenging race. The Red Bull camp were not happy, to say the least.
Ferrari’s Frustrations: Leclerc and Hamilton’s Struggles
Ferrari’s weekend was marred by setbacks and internal discord. Charles Leclerc’s troubles began with the skies opening with an untimely deluge of rain which contributed to his crashing on the way to the Sprint race grid, resulting in a DNS (Did Not Start). In Qualifying , he managed only eighth place, expressing frustration over the car’s lack of pace. He is maximising the potential of the car, and it is just that the potential of the car is not there!
During the Grand PrixTM , Leclerc and Hamilton found themselves battling for seventh position. Hamilton, having started 12th, climbed through the field and caught up to Leclerc. However, team orders led to a tense exchange over the radio, with Hamilton criticizing the decision-making with sarcastic comments about Ferrari wanting him to sit behind Charles for the whole race. His anger erupted about the perceived lack of good teamwork. Eventually, positions were swapped, then swapped again but the incident highlighted the growing frustration within the team.
Championship Standings Post-Miami
Drivers’ Championship:
1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 131 points
2. Lando Norris (McLaren) – 115 points
3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 99 points
4. George Russell (Mercedes) – 93 points
5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 53 points
6. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 48 points
7. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 41 points
Constructors’ Championship:
1. McLaren-Mercedes – 246 points
2. Mercedes – 141 points
3. Red Bull Racing-Honda RBPT – 105 points
4. Ferrari – 94 points
5. Williams-Mercedes – 37 points
A Lighthearted Prelude: The LEGO Parade
Adding a touch of whimsy to the weekend, all 20 drivers participated in a pre-race event featuring life-sized, driveable LEGO F1 cars. Constructed from 400,000 bricks and capable of reaching speeds up to 20 km/h, the parade was a fan favorite. Drivers embraced the fun, with playful antics and mock races, providing a delightful contrast to the high-stakes competition that followed.
As the F1 circus moves on, Ferrari faces critical questions about performance and team dynamics, while McLaren rides a wave of momentum. Verstappen is in danger of losing his World Championship Drivers title. Don’t expect him to surrender easily. The championship battle this month intensifies, and fans eagerly await the Monaco Grand PrixTM in this thrilling season. There is just Imola in Italy before it. Despite Ferrari’s woes Charles Leclerc will be gunning for a historic win in Monaco once again. Go Charles!
