The Miami Grand Prix is one of Formula 1's newest races, but its history is already rich with drama, breakthroughs, and strategic complexity. Since its inaugural running in 2022, the event has produced four different winners, witnessed one of the most memorable maiden victories in recent memory, and evolved from a standard race weekend into a Sprint format. Here is the complete story of Miami's first four years on the Formula 1 calendar.
2022: The inaugural race
The first Miami Grand Prix was held on May 8, 2022, making Miami the 11th different American venue to host a Formula 1 World Championship round. The circuit was built around the Hard Rock Stadium complex in Miami Gardens, a temporary layout that combined high-speed straights with a tight technical section running over an exit ramp and under flyovers.
Charles Leclerc took pole position for Ferrari, with teammate Carlos Sainz alongside him on the front row. The qualifying session was notable for its intensity — the temporary surface was still evolving, and grip levels were inconsistent across the circuit. Max Verstappen, who had been struggling with his Red Bull's setup all weekend, qualified third.
The race was dominated by a late safety car that bunched the field and created a dramatic finish. Verstappen, who had been managing his tyres through the middle stint, was in the perfect position when the safety car appeared. He overtook Leclerc on the restart and held on to win the inaugural Miami Grand Prix by 3.786 seconds. Sainz completed the podium in third, while Sergio Perez finished fourth and George Russell fifth.
The event was a commercial success — the Hard Rock Stadium complex was sold out, and the atmosphere was unlike any other race on the calendar. The combination of high-speed racing, celebrity presence, and the Florida sunshine made Miami an instant fan favorite. But the race also revealed the circuit's weaknesses: the track surface was slippery, the barriers were too close in some sections, and the drainage was inadequate for Florida's sudden thunderstorms.
2023: Verstappen's dominance continues
The second Miami Grand Prix was held on May 7, 2023, and it was a demonstration of Max Verstappen's growing dominance. The Dutch driver had won the 2022 race from third on the grid; in 2023, he won from ninth.
The qualifying session was chaotic. Charles Leclerc spun into the barriers during Q3, which brought out the red flag and left Sergio Perez on pole position. Verstappen, who had been fastest in all three practice sessions, was forced to start from ninth after a driveshaft issue in qualifying.
The race was a masterclass in tyre management and strategic execution. Verstappen worked his way through the field methodically, using his superior pace and the Red Bull's tyre management advantage to climb through the positions. He took the lead on lap 42 and pulled away to win by 5.384 seconds from Perez. Fernando Alonso, in his first season with Aston Martin, completed the podium in third.
The 2023 race also saw Verstappen set the lap record — 1:29.708 — which still stands as the fastest time around the Miami International Autodrome. The record was set on lap 53, when Verstappen was pushing hard on fresh tyres after his final pit stop.
2024: Norris's breakthrough
The third Miami Grand Prix, held on May 5, 2024, was the most significant in the event's short history. It was the weekend when Lando Norris won his first Formula 1 race.
Norris had been knocking on the door of victory for years. The British driver had finished on the podium 15 times without winning, and the pressure was building. McLaren had brought a major upgrade package to Miami, and the car was fast from the first practice session.
Verstappen took pole position for both the Sprint and the Grand Prix, and he won the Sprint on Saturday. But in Sunday's race, the situation changed. Norris, who had qualified second, was faster than Verstappen in the opening stint and took the lead after the first pit stops. From there, he controlled the race, managing his tyres and his pace to win by 7.612 seconds from Verstappen.
The victory was emotional. Norris, who had been with McLaren since his debut in 2019, finally broke through at the circuit where the team had been strong the previous year. The win was also significant for McLaren — it was the team's first victory since Daniel Ricciardo's win at Monza in 2021, and it signaled that the team was back as a competitive force.
Charles Leclerc finished third, Sergio Perez fourth, and Carlos Sainz fifth. The race was also notable for being the first Sprint weekend at Miami, which added an extra layer of strategic complexity.
2025: Piastri's McLaren 1-2
The fourth Miami Grand Prix, held on May 4, 2025, was another McLaren victory — but this time it was Oscar Piastri who took the win.
The Australian driver had been steadily improving since his debut in 2023, and Miami was the weekend where everything came together. Piastri qualified on the front row alongside Verstappen, and he took the lead at the start. From there, he controlled the race, managing his tyres and his pace to win by 4.630 seconds from teammate Lando Norris.
The McLaren 1-2 was the team's first since the 2024 Italian Grand Prix, and it was a statement of intent. The team had been building toward this result all season, and Miami was the circuit where the car's strengths — traction, tyre management, and straight-line speed — were perfectly suited.
Verstappen finished fourth, his worst result at Miami since the race's inception. George Russell completed the podium in third, while Alexander Albon scored points for Williams with a strong fifth-place finish.
The 2025 race was also notable for Antonelli's performance in Sprint Qualifying. The young Mercedes driver took his maiden pole position in the Sprint Qualifying session, a remarkable achievement for a driver in his first full Formula 1 season. Although he did not win the Sprint, his pace was a sign of things to come.
The evolution of the event
The Miami Grand Prix has evolved significantly since its inaugural running:
Track improvements: The circuit surface has been resurfaced and the barriers have been repositioned to improve safety. The drainage system has been upgraded to handle Florida's sudden thunderstorms, and the kerbs have been modified to reduce the risk of car damage.
Sprint format: The event became a Sprint weekend in 2024, which added an extra day of competitive action and changed the strategic calculation for teams. The Sprint has its own points system and its own qualifying session, which means drivers must deliver two strong performances in two days.
Commercial growth: The event has become one of the most commercially successful races on the calendar. The Hard Rock Stadium complex is sold out months in advance, and the celebrity presence has made Miami one of the most glamorous events in the sport.
Competitive balance: The race has produced four different winners in four years — Verstappen (2022, 2023), Norris (2024), and Piastri (2025). This diversity is unusual for a new circuit and suggests that the Miami International Autodrome rewards different car characteristics than some of the more established tracks.
Where fans get confused
The first confusion is treating Miami as a "street circuit" in the Monaco or Jeddah sense. It is a temporary circuit built around a stadium complex, with wider runoff areas and more room for error than a true street track. The racing tends to be more open, with more overtaking opportunities and fewer consequences for small mistakes.
The second confusion is assuming that Verstappen's early dominance means the circuit favors Red Bull. While Verstappen won the first two races, the 2024 and 2025 victories went to McLaren drivers, which suggests that the circuit rewards different car characteristics as the regulations evolve.
The third confusion is reading too much into the Sprint results. The Sprint is a standalone race with its own points, and the results do not always predict the Grand Prix outcome. In 2024, Verstappen won the Sprint but Norris won the Grand Prix. In 2025, Antonelli took Sprint Qualifying pole but did not win the Sprint or the Grand Prix.
What to watch in 2026
The 2026 Miami Grand Prix will be the first Sprint weekend after the regulation refinements. The new rules — with revised energy deployment, a Boost cap, and a start safety trial — will be tested for the first time at a circuit that rewards traction, braking, and tyre management.
The key question is whether Mercedes' early-season dominance will translate to Miami's temporary surface. The opening three rounds were all purpose-built circuits, and Miami's bumps, heat, and surface evolution could expose weaknesses that were not visible at the smoother tracks.
Also watch whether McLaren can continue its Miami form. The team has won the last two races at the circuit, and the 2026 regulations — with their emphasis on traction and braking — could suit the car's characteristics. A third consecutive Miami victory would be a significant statement for the team.