Five races in, and the 2025 season has been an absolute banger. McLaren has surged to the front with a near-perfect start, while Mercedes has rebuilt consistency and Red Bull fights to regain lost ground. Ferrari flashes brilliance like the China sprint, and the midfield is closer than ever. Every point, every mistake, every upgrade feels heavier in the last season of the ground-effect era. Last week in Jeddah:
Lando Norris' podium streak came to a screeching halt as Oscar Piastri became the 3rd driver to win back to back races in the ground-effect era, and is now leading the driver's championship.
Max Verstappen became the first pole sitter in 2025 to not win the race
Charles Leclerc secure Ferrari's maiden podium of the season, while Hamilton's horrors in Saudi Arabia persisted yet again.
Carlos Sainz finally finished ahead of Alex Albon in a race this season.
Oliver Bearman outqualified and finished ahead of Esteban Ocon in Jeddah, a feat neither Alonso nor Gasly could do in multiple attempts.
Image Credits - Formula One
Now, the championship spotlight shifts to Miami, a controversial track layout that has made for some interesting action but hasn't gained any fanfare. In Miami, expect the unexpected: qualifying prowess differing from Grand Prix glory, curses that won't die, and chaos that seems baked into the asphalt. Buckle up for the first American showdown of the season. Here are a few interesting nuggets from previous races at the Miami International Autodrome:
Minutes from Miami
The constructor that wins in Miami always goes on to win the Constructors' Championship - Red Bull achieved this feat in 2022 and 2023, while McLaren's championship bid in 2024 started here.
Miami has a bitter-sweet trend for the winner of the previous Grand Prix - they always claim the pole position in Miami, only to fall short in the race.
Leclerc's Australia win in 2022 was followed by a pole in Miami, but lost to Verstappen and Red Bull in race trim.
Leclerc's crash in Q3 meant Perez followed his Baku win with a pole in Miami, only for teammate Verstappen to win from 9th, and end Perez's title aspirations.
Last year, Verstappen secured his 6th straight pole to start the season, but lost the race to Lando Norris who inherited the lead after a timely safety car and pulled away from the Dutchman.
The front-row starters in the Miami Grand Prix have always reached the podium, but have never won the race.
The driver starting on pole position has always finished P2 while the one starting 2nd has always finished P3.
Rookies beware: no rookie has finished ahead of a full-time non-rookie in Miami. It'll be interesting to see how 6 rookies will fare this year.
)
Image Credits - Formula One
Having covered some of the general statistics and facts about the parking-lot turned street circuit, here is a preview for each team going into the first American race of the season.
P1 : McLaren (188 Points)
Oscar Piastri could become the first non-Verstappen driver to win three straight races in the ground-effect era. But can the Aussie survive Miami’s unforgiving trend mentioned above?
Last year's Miami Grand Prix was the stage for Lando Norris' maiden victory in F1. Can the talented Brit rein in the tricky McLaren and secure back the lead in the championship?
Image Credits - Formula One
P2 : Mercedes (111 Points)
Mercedes has never stood on the podium in Miami while two of their customer teams have already achieved the feat, Aston Martin in 2023 and McLaren in 2024.
Even worse, a Mercedes driver is yet to qualify in the top 5 in Miami. Russel's streak of qualifying in the top 5 of every race in 2025 is possibly their best bet of ending their poor history at Hard Rock.
P3 : Red Bull (89 Points)
Max Verstappen is the only driver to stand on the podium of every Miami Grand Prix.
Max is also the only driver to lead a lap in every Miami race, and logged 106 laps at the front - more than all other drivers combined (65). Expect nothing less than a fight to keep the streak alive.
Image Credits - Autosport
P4 : Ferrari (78 Points)
Charles Leclerc is the only driver not named Max Verstappen to bag multiple podiums in Miami.
Lewis Hamilton has been consistent at at the Miami Grand Prix, finishing all three Grand Prix in P6.
P5 : Williams (25 Points)
No Williams driver has ever reached Q3 in Miami.
Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz - now with the team - has never qualified outside the top three here. Can he change their fate?
Image Credits - Reuters
P6 : Haas (20 Points)
Haas lead the unfortunate category of most penalty time with a brutal 70 seconds, more than the 65 seconds of penalties by all other teams combined.
Esteban Ocon is the only non-Ferrari/Red Bull/Mercedes driver to score points in Miami every year - P8 in 2022, P9 in 2023 and P10 in 2024.
P7 : Aston Martin (10 Points)
Fernando Alonso is the only non Red Bull and Ferrari driver to start on the front row in Miami, thanks to his P2 start in 2023.
Alonso's P3 finish in 2023 is also the only time a non-Ferrari, McLaren or Red Bull driver has stood on the podium in Miami.
Image Credits - Formula One
Racing Bulls, Alpine and Kick Sauber
RB have scored 6 points in the 2024 sprint at Miami, the same as their points tally across 3 Grand Prix at the venue.
Pierre Gasly has never qualified behind a teammate for the Miami Grand Prix.
Nico Hulkenberg is yet to score a point in the Miami Grand Prix. However, he has scored 2 points in last year's sprint event.
Miami Mystery🤔
In this section, I will ask you, the reader a question related to the history of the upcoming Grand Prix. You can share your answer in the comments section. So here it goes:
Which driver has started and finished every race (including sprints) at Miami in the top 5?
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
Hope you enjoyed reading this article. If so, I request you to kindly support my work here to help me grow this project. Your encouragement will go a long way in improving my work. Do not forget to share this with other F1 enthusiasts who might enjoy this.