4 May 2026 16:00 (UTC)
Sonic on the sims, Lando the meteorologist, and McLaren Racing Live: Behind the scenes in Florida
Allow us to take you behind the scenes of the Miami Grand Prix and deep into the paddock, with our regular post-race wrap-up. Covering all the action you might have missed, we'll explore everything from the outfits that caught our attention to the strongest snaps and the standout quotes.
We always enjoy our trips to Florida, but this year’s visit to Miami was extra special, as we brought across a selection of our favourite McLaren cars for an epic Showrun on the streets of the city and hosted our biggest McLaren Racing Live event yet.
It was also an exciting weekend on track, as we enjoyed our most productive round of the season so far, with four trophies, plus Sprint Pole, to show for our efforts, including a 1–2 in the Sprint and a double podium in the Grand Prix. There was a lot to choose from this weekend, but here’s what caught our eye over a busy weekend…
Often, it’s the simplest things that make you laugh the most, and the timing of this announcement couldn’t have been any better. Just moments after Lando had predicted that Sunday would be dry, the PA System warned of inclement weather.
Okay, so Lando probably isn’t going to be a meteorologist any time soon, but dodgy weather predictions aside, his judgement across the weekend was razor sharp, with the reigning World Champion enjoying his strongest round of the season so far, including a brilliant drive from fourth to second in the race later that same day.
For the third year running, our results in Miami feel like a meaningful step forward.
In 2024, Lando secured his first Formula 1 victory here, while in 2025, we became the first team to score maximum points across a Sprint weekend since it was introduced, finishing 1–2 in both races. Both moments would later come to be seen as key milestones in our Championship success.
In 2026, Miami marks our strongest round of the season so far, including our first 1–2 finish in any race since the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix.
Lando’s lights-to-flag victory was our first of the year - and his first while running the No.1. It was a composed drive from the reigning World Champion, coming on the back of our first upgrades of the season.
Both drivers put them to good use across the weekend, including two accomplished performances in the Grand Prix, but our standout moment was the Sprint 1-2. Starting from Pole with Oscar in third, Lando made a strong launch to retain the lead, while Oscar moved into second after passing Kimi Antonelli. From there, they steadily built a gap and controlled the race to the Chequered Flag.
Wow, Papaya Family, what a fantastic few days we shared with you at McLaren Racing Live: Miami. It was amazing to meet so many of our supporters throughout the week, whether you stopped by ahead of the weekend to check out our activations and garage-style displays, or joined us during the sessions to watch the action on the big screens.
Undoubtedly, though, our highlight was Wednesday’s Showrun, watching McLaren heroes past and present put some of our most iconic cars through their paces on the streets of Coconut Grove.
Seeing Emmo back in the M23, Bruno Senna driving his uncle’s MP4/6, and Mika at the wheel of the MP4/14 was a joy. It was just as special to watch Oscar take Lewis Hamilton’s MP4-23 out, Lando return to the MCL60, and Tony Kanaan behind the wheel of the Arrow McLaren IndyCar.
It was difficult to decide how to dress over the weekend, as scorching sunshine on Saturday gave way to wet, stormy conditions on Sunday, but whatever the weather, we knew we could trust the Reiss x McLaren collection to deliver.
Friday had also been a hot one, with Lando opting for a T-shirt and trousers, while Oscar paired a T-shirt with shorts. The two looks offered contrasting vibes: Oscar’s had a streetwear feel to it, while Lando’s felt inspired by a vintage motorsport aesthetic.
10/10, no notes.
We’re used to playing as Sonic and Tails in Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, but it was strange seeing it the other way around, as they raced McLaren cars on our simulators at McLaren Racing Live: Miami.
Unsurprisingly, given their racing backgrounds, both were naturals, setting impressively quick lap times on the Miami International Autodrome circuit almost immediately after sitting down behind the wheel. The McLaren Driver Development Programme will be in touch.
"We are in the fight, and we believe this sets the stage for a very interesting Championship battle for the fans and Formula 1.”
Following a slightly rocky start to the year, the last two rounds and our recent upgrade in Miami have fuelled optimism as we approach the busy European leg of the season.
Andrea’s quote nicely captures the growing confidence at the McLaren factory - that while the competition is fierce, we are firmly in the mix. No one is getting carried away, but this looks set to be an exciting season, with several teams capable of fighting for wins and a title battle that is wide open.
The next round in Canada is also a Sprint weekend, meaning that once again we’ll have just one Practice session to test the new package. However, it also brings a greater opportunity to improve our position in the Championship standings, with more points on offer.
We're back at the factory this week, which will allow us to take a look at the data and spend some more time on the sim, following our first upgrade package of the season, before we then head off to Canada for the fifth round of the season on 22-24 May.
