George Russell finished fourth at the Miami Grand Prix, 43 seconds behind his Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli, who claimed his third consecutive grand prix victory. Antonelli took pole position and controlled the race, while Russell struggled with pace and track conditions, later describing the Miami International Autodrome as a bogey track due to its low-grip surface not suiting his driving style. The result extended Antonelli's lead in the drivers' standings to 20 points after four rounds, overtaking Russell as the championship favourite with UK bookmakers. Russell gained two places in the Sprint event due to a five-second penalty imposed on Antonelli for multiple track limits breaches, and another position on the final lap of the race when Charles Leclerc spun out at Turn 16. Russell sustained front-wing damage during the grand prix but managed to finish on the lead lap. Speaking after the race, Russell acknowledged Antonelli's pace, saying, "He is a fantastic driver and has been exceptionally quick since day one. He's won all of the championships as a youngster," before adding, "I've still got confidence in myself... I've not forgotten how to drive."
Russell's claim that he hasn't forgotten how to drive carries little weight when he's been outqualified and outperformed in three straight races by a 19-year-old team-mate. The fact that he gained positions through others' misfortune rather than superior pace exposes his current lack of competitive edge. No Nigerian or African drivers featured in the race.
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