Miami brought survival, speed and another Mercedes statement
The 2026 Miami Grand Prix delivered a compressed Sprint weekend full of sharp contrasts. Ferrari started fast in the only practice session, McLaren controlled the Sprint through Lando Norris, and Kimi Antonelli turned pole position into another Mercedes victory on Sunday. For Aston Martin, the weekend was less spectacular but still valuable: Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll both reached the flag in the Sprint and the Grand Prix, collecting mileage, checking progress and showing small signs of improvement even while the AMR26 remained outside the points fight.
Aston Martin needed mileage
After difficult weekends earlier in the season, Miami gave Aston Martin something important: running. Alonso and Stroll were still near the rear in practice and Sprint Qualifying, but both cars completed the Sprint and the Grand Prix, giving the team cleaner data than it had enjoyed at several previous rounds.
McLaren owned Saturday
Lando Norris converted Sprint pole into a controlled win ahead of Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc. McLaren looked sharp over the short format, while Mercedes had to recover after Antonelli’s tricky launch and later penalty dropped him down the Sprint order.
Mercedes answered on Sunday
Antonelli bounced back in Grand Prix Qualifying, took pole and then survived a chaotic race start before winning ahead of Norris and Piastri. Ferrari remained in the story through Leclerc and Hamilton, while Red Bull and Verstappen endured another complicated afternoon.
Three defining themes of Aston Martin’s Miami weekend
Miami did not suddenly move Aston Martin into the points, but it gave the team a more complete race weekend: one practice session, Sprint Qualifying, a Sprint, Grand Prix Qualifying and a full Sunday distance for both cars.
The only free practice session left little room for experimentation. Charles Leclerc set the benchmark for Ferrari, while Aston Martin remained near the bottom of the order with Alonso 19th and Stroll 22nd. In a Sprint weekend, that meant the team had to make decisions quickly, with limited time to chase balance or refine tyre preparation.
Sprint Qualifying was difficult, with both Aston Martins granted permission to race after failing to set times within the usual 107% requirement. The Sprint itself was more productive: Alonso finished 16th and Stroll 18th, both on soft tyres. Later, Grand Prix Qualifying brought a small but useful sign of progress, with Alonso 18th and Stroll 19th, ahead of the Cadillac cars.
Sunday did not bring a points finish, but it did bring completion. Alonso crossed the line 15th and Stroll 17th, both one lap down, as the front of the race shifted between Antonelli, Norris, Piastri, Leclerc and Verstappen. For Aston Martin, Miami was not a breakthrough, but it was a cleaner weekend from which to build.
How Miami framed Aston Martin against the rest
The competitive picture in Miami was more complex than a simple Mercedes victory. McLaren showed Sprint strength, Ferrari had pace and penalties, Red Bull suffered moments of disorder, and Aston Martin quietly focused on getting both cars through every session.
Antonelli’s weekend was not perfect, especially after his Sprint penalty, but Mercedes responded when it mattered. Pole position, strategy and race pace combined to deliver another win, with Russell also collecting solid points in fourth.
McLaren’s Sprint one-two showed genuine pace, and Norris pushed Antonelli hard in the Grand Prix. Ferrari began strongly with Leclerc fastest in practice and later fought for the podium, though penalties and late-race drama changed the final order.
Aston Martin were not in the points battle, yet Miami gave the team a more stable platform than several earlier races. The gap remains clear, but both drivers reached the finish in both competitive races, which matters for development and confidence.
Miami Grand Prix 2026 – key weekend moments
Swipe horizontally on mobile to move through the defining snapshots of Miami.
A timeline of Aston Martin’s Miami Grand Prix weekend
From a tough Friday to a completed Sunday race, Miami gave Aston Martin a more complete — if still modest — weekend.
Miami was not Aston Martin’s breakthrough, but it was a weekend of completion. In a season where the AMR26 still needs answers, finishing both races with both cars gave the team something real to analyse.
Weekend details worth noting
- Charles Leclerc topped the sole practice session ahead of Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri.
- Fernando Alonso finished FP1 in P19, while Lance Stroll ended the session P22.
- Lando Norris won the Miami Sprint from Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc.
- Alonso finished the Sprint in P16, with Stroll P18 after both Aston Martins started on soft tyres.
- Kimi Antonelli took Grand Prix pole and then converted it into another Mercedes victory.
- The race featured early incidents for Isack Hadjar and Pierre Gasly, bringing out the Safety Car.
- Alonso finished the Grand Prix P15 and Stroll P17, both outside the points but both classified.