Lionel Messi congratulates Kimi Antonelli after Miami GP win

Lionel Messi congratulated Kimi Antonelli after the 19-year-old converted pole into victory at the Miami Grand Prix

Football legend Lionel Messi congratulated Kimi Antonelli in the Mercedes hospitality unit after his Miami Grand Prix triumph.

The Italian driver delivered another strong performance around the Miami International Autodrome, converting his third pole position of the 2026 Formula 1 season into his third win.

Mercedes shared a video of the 19-year-old back with the team as he recovered from the grand prix. "It was tough. So hot. So humid," he told the camera. "Oh, it was intense. At some points, I looked at the screen when I was on hard, I saw 20 laps left. I was like, 'No, I just want this race to be over'.

"I was like, 'Please, please, just be over, please be over quickly.'"

As he made his way back through the hospitality unit, Antonelli was met with cheers. Messi, who was a guest of the Brackley outfit with his family, approached the driver to congratulate him.

"Little Kimi making Messi smile, a rare sight," one fan commented on the video, while another added: "How much talent and humility together... You can't help but feel happy that Kimi wins."

Antonelli extended his lead in the drivers' championship at the Miami Grand Prix. After just four rounds of the season, he now has a 20-point lead over his Mercedes team-mate George Russell. He has also become the first driver to convert his first three pole positions into wins.

"This is just the beginning. The road is still long. We are working super hard and the team is doing an incredible job," Antonelli said after the race.

"Without them, I wouldn't be here, so thanks to them and my family. I'm going to enjoy this one then get back to work."

The next race is the Canadian Grand Prix on 22-24 May.