Antonelli wins in Miami to extend title lead

Kimi Antonelli has won his first three grands pix in consecutive races, all from pole position [Reuters]

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 could finish only fourth.

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 had 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.

The key stories in Miami were:

• Another win for Antonelli, who has won three of the first four races to put pre-season favourite Russell in the shade
• A revival for McLaren after upgrades this weekend and a strong drive from Norris
• A full-on race for Max Verstappen, including a rare mistake, a fightback and some on-the-edge racing
• Many examples of the "yo-yo racing" that has characterised this new season and has split opinion

Antonelli overcomes another poor start

Antonelli took this win despite another poor start - he has now lost places off the line in all four grands prix and both sprint events this season.

The Mercedes was swamped by Leclerc's fast-starting Ferrari from fourth on one side and Verstappen on the other on the run to the first corner.

Verstappen went to the inside, but ran deep and as he fought to retain the lead, Leclerc squeezed him at Turn Two, and the four-time champion lost control on the kerb, spinning a full 360 degrees with the entire field behind him.

He quickly regained control but had dropped to 10th place and now out of the fight for victory, a blow on a weekend on which Red Bull appeared to return to competitiveness.

That left Leclerc leading from Antonelli and Norris, and the yo-yo fighting began, caused by varying rates of battery charge.

Antonelli took the lead on lap four, only for Leclerc to pass back a lap later, before a safety car was sent out after two separate accidents on lap six.