(Motorsport-Total.com) – Football legend Lionel Messi congratulated Kimi Antonelli after his triumph at the Miami Grand Prix in the Mercedes hospitality area.
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The Italian driver once again showed a strong performance at the Miami International Autodrome and converted his third pole position of the 2026 season into his third victory.
On the Platform X, Mercedes released a video showing the 19-year-old returning to the team after the Grand Prix. “It was tough. So hot. So humid,” Antonelli says to the camera. “Oh, it was intense. At some points, I looked at the screen when I was on the hard tires and saw that there were still 20 laps left. I thought to myself, ‘No, I just want this race to be over.'”
Meeting in the hospitality area causes a stir
On his way through the Mercedes hospitality area, Antonelli was greeted with applause. Messi, who was on site as a guest of the team together with his family, approached the driver and congratulated him personally.
Fans also reacted to the scene on social media. One user writes, “Little Kimi makes Messi smile, a rare sight,” while another comments, “So much talent and humility together. You can only be happy that Kimi is winning.”
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Antonelli extends lead in the overall standings
With his success, Antonelli further extends his lead in the drivers’ championship. After four season races, he is now 20 points ahead of his teammate George Russell. He is also the first driver to convert his first three pole positions into victories.
“This is just the beginning. The road is still long. We are working extremely hard and the team is doing an incredible job,” Antonelli explains after the race. “Without them, I wouldn’t be here, so thanks to the team and my family. I will enjoy this moment and then get back to work.”
The next stop of the season takes place from May 22 to 24 in Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix. After three wins from three poles, the focus is on whether Antonelli can continue his historic run at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal or if the competition strikes back for the first time.
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