Miami Grand Prix Betting Tips: Norris value for first podium finish of the year
The 2026 Formula 1 season returns after a five-week break with the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday.
The cancellation of the previous two scheduled rounds in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia has given the teams time to work on improvements to their cars and some heavily revised cars are expected to line up on the grid in Florida.
It's a sprint-race weekend and the sole practice session on Friday has been extended from 60 minutes to 90 to enable drivers to get to grips with the revised energy management regulations that are in place from this weekend.
Mercedes have won the first three races of the 2026 Formula 1 season and Kimi Antonelli has become the youngest driver ever to lead the World Championship after his back-to-back wins in China and Japan.
McLaren have enjoyed their visits to Miami in the last two seasons, with Lando Norris earning his first career win there in 2024 while Oscar Piastri led home a McLaren one-two last season.
Tip 1 - Kimi Antonelli to win @ 15/8
Kimi Antonelli had a mixed weekend in Miami last season, showing up well in the qualifying sessions for the sprint and the grand prix, but having a tougher time in the races.
The Italian took pole for the sprint in his rookie season but fell back to seventh in the shorter race, while for the grand prix he qualified third and came home sixth.
However, while Mercedes did not generally have the pace of the Red Bull or McLaren cars last season, they have been leading the way this term and Antonelli has converted pole into race wins in Shanghai and Suzuka, adding a pair of fastest laps for good measure.
Mercedes have been working hard on their main concern - their relatively slow race starts - and while progress is expected from several of their rivals, Antonelli has shown enough ability at this circuit to suggest his golden run may not be over yet.
George Russell, who won the opening race in Australia, is the favourite to win the race at 6/4, but Antonelli looks a better value option at 15/8.
Tip 2 - Lando Norris top three finish @ 7/4
All eyes will be on McLaren in Miami this weekend as the British team have promised a heavily revised package for the race in Florida intended to take the challenge to Mercedes for the rest of the season.
The defending constructors' champions had a rough opening to the season, with neither of their cars even able to start the Chinese Grand Prix, but they took a step in the right direction when Oscar Piastri was second in Japan and both cars showed good pace.
Current world champion Lando Norris will have fond memories of the track after winning his first F1 race there in 2024, when McLaren caught the eye with a previous in-season upgrade.
Having finished second to an in-form Piastri last season, he looks a solid bet to make the top three in Miami for a third successive year.
Tip 3 - Esteban Ocon top 10 finish @ 5/4
The midfield battle now has to include Red Bull, who have fallen off the pace of the top three teams, with 2022 and 2023 Miami victor Max Verstappen finishing no higher than sixth in the first three races.
The Haas team have had one car in the points at all three races this year, with Oliver Bearman finishing seventh in Australia and fifth in China, while Esteban Ocon was 10th in Japan.
The French driver looks worth backing as the bigger-priced of the Haas pair to make the points in Miami as he has an excellent record at the track, finishing eighth, ninth and 10th there in F1's first three visits.
He was ahead of teammate Bearman in both qualifying and race sessions in Miami last season and the car's solid performances this year suggest another points finish is on the agenda.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation
