The 2026 Miami Grand Prix delivered exactly what everyone expected on the stopwatch and a genuine surprise underneath it, while 4,000 miles away in Scotland, Hearts took a massive step toward ending one of the most entrenched duopolies in world football. Episode 166 of Tackling the Chicane covers both, and there's no filler here — this is a weekend where the Scottish Premiership title race got real and Kimi Antonelli made a statement that's starting to feel less like a hot streak and more like a changing of the guard at Mercedes.

If you're searching for who won the 2026 Miami Grand Prix, how Hearts fared against Rangers in their biggest match in a decade, or what it means for Celtic's increasingly complicated title hopes, this recap breaks down everything the guys discussed — from Antonelli's third straight win and a surprisingly competitive midfield battle, to the Hearts board's Tony Bloom-fueled rise and why a Celtic fan might actually be rooting against his own club lifting the trophy.

We'll also touch on the F1 Apple TV switch, the looming Indianapolis 500, and why the hosts think IndyCar might currently be the better on-track product. Let's get into it.

Hearts Beat Rangers 2-1 in the Biggest Scottish Premiership Match in a Decade

Monday's Hearts vs Rangers clash was billed as the biggest test of Hearts' title credentials, and they passed it. The final score was 2-1, but the shape of the match told the real story. Rangers scored first in the 23rd minute off a deflected, somewhat fortunate goal in the box — a flat-footed keeper, a bad bounce, the kind of goal that's close to lucky without technically being lucky, as the hosts debate on the show. Hearts looked rattled early, managing just 36% possession and a single shot in the first half.

Then the switch flipped. Hearts controlled the second half almost completely, flipping possession to 49% and firing off ten shots to Rangers' token resistance. Beni Baningime's equalizer came off a rebound after a deflected first attempt, and the place "came unglued," as the hosts put it. Lawrence Shankland delivered the eventual winner in the 71st minute, and from there Rangers never threatened again.

The bigger issue, which the hosts hammer home, is Rangers' pattern of sitting back on a one-goal lead in massive matches — the same thing that cost them a 2-0 lead at Ibrox against Celtic earlier this season. In a league this competitive, taking your foot off the gas is fatal, and it's a big reason the hosts now consider Rangers mathematically alive but functionally finished in this title race.

What the Hearts-Rangers Result Means for the Scottish Premiership Title Race

With three matches left, Hearts sit three points clear of Celtic and have what the hosts call the best possible position heading into the run-in — starting with the fact that they play first each remaining weekend. Hearts face Motherwell Saturday at 3 PM Eastern, with Celtic and Rangers meeting Sunday at 7 AM Eastern in a match that now raises a real question: does a Rangers side with nothing left to play for show up deflated, or does it play spoiler against its biggest rival?

Here's the scenario that makes this run-in must-watch: if Hearts beat Motherwell and Rangers somehow beat Celtic, Hearts could clinch the Scottish Premiership title outright on Wednesday, May 13th, against Falkirk — meaning the title could technically be decided before the next episode of this podcast even airs. If Celtic hold up their end against Rangers, though, this could run all the way to the final day, with Hearts and Celtic meeting head-to-head to settle it.

The scale of what's happening shouldn't be undersold: no club outside the Celtic-Rangers duopoly has won the Scottish league in 40 years. If Hearts complete this, it ranks among the greatest upsets in the sport's history, full stop.

Why Celtic Fans Are Torn as the Title Slips Away

One of the more interesting threads in this episode is the hosts' honest reckoning with what a Celtic title would actually mean right now. The argument: Celtic have gotten visibly worse this season while spending next to nothing to improve the squad, and winning the league anyway would simply let the board off the hook for another cycle of stagnation. It's a case of success masking dysfunction.

Contrast that with Hearts, where new ownership under Tony Bloom — who also owns Brighton in the Premier League — has injected real investment and the same data-driven modernization that transformed Brighton into a top-half Premier League club. Pair that with Eric McInnis, deservedly named Manager of the Year, and a front line built around Claudio Braga and Lawrence Shankland, and you have a club built the right way finally catching a Celtic side that's coasted on reputation.

The hosts also dig into Celtic's murky managerial future, with Robbie Keane and Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou both floated as candidates — the latter getting the hosts' preference given Motherwell's surprisingly strong season and two wins over Celtic.

Kimi Antonelli Makes It Three in a Row at the 2026 Miami Grand Prix

Shifting to Formula 1, Kimi Antonelli delivered another statement performance at the 2026 Miami Grand Prix, taking pole and converting it into his third straight win. The gap was staggering: Lando Norris finished 3.26 seconds back in second, with everyone else — Max Verstappen, George Russell, Lewis Hamilton, even Franco Colapinto over a minute adrift — scattered further behind from there.

The hosts spend real time on the growing gulf between Antonelli and teammate George Russell, who had arguably his worst weekend of the season: fourth in the sprint (where McLaren finished 1-2), fifth in Grand Prix qualifying, and simply outclassed across the board. Four seasons into this podcast, Russell's pattern of third-or-fourth finishes continues, and the hosts are now comfortable saying Antonelli — not Russell — looks like Mercedes' best shot at a 2026 title.

Elsewhere, Franco Colapinto's best finish of the year, Paul Aron's Audi in 12th, and Haas still clinging to sixth in the constructors' standings despite a struggling Esteban Ocon rounded out a Miami weekend that, true to form for the street circuit, included four DNFs — Hadjar and Lawson among them after separate incidents into the walls.

McLaren, Ferrari and Verstappen Close the Gap — But Is It Enough?

The real subplot of Miami was competitive order shifting underneath Antonelli's dominance. McLaren and Ferrari both looked sharper, and Verstappen qualified second behind Antonelli — signs that the upgrade war is narrowing the field even if the results don't fully show it yet. Still, the hosts aren't ready to call this a genuine title fight: a 3-second gap to the second-place car, as they note, is an eternity in Formula 1, and until a team can consistently run within a second of Antonelli, Mercedes remains the team to beat.

The broader conversation turns skeptical of the product itself — not the regulations specifically, but the quality of racing, the cartoonish feel of the current power-deployment overtakes, and a general sense that IndyCar currently offers a more honest on-track product. Add in the switch to Apple TV, which the hosts find stripped-down compared to the old F1 TV experience (no archive, limited in-car options, same price tag with less content), and a month-long April gap in the calendar, and there's real frustration here about momentum heading into a summer that's about to be dominated by the World Cup.

Key Takeaways

Want the full back-and-forth, including the debate over whether Celtic winning the title would actually be bad for the club long-term? Stream Episode 166 of Tackling the Chicane wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe so you don't miss next week's episode — which could open with Hearts already crowned Scottish Premiership champions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the 2026 Miami Grand Prix?

Kimi Antonelli won the 2026 Miami Grand Prix, starting from pole and cruising to victory for his third consecutive race win. Lando Norris finished second for McLaren, 3.26 seconds behind, with Max Verstappen rounding out the podium for Red Bull.

What was the final score in Hearts vs Rangers?

Hearts beat Rangers 2-1 in a match that effectively decided the direction of the Scottish Premiership title race. Rangers led 1-0 at halftime before Hearts responded with goals from Beni Baningime and Lawrence Shankland in the second half.

Can Hearts still win the Scottish Premiership title?

Yes — Hearts currently sit atop the table with a three-point lead and three matches remaining. They could clinch the title as early as May 13th against Falkirk if they beat Motherwell and Rangers beat Celtic over the preceding weekend.

How did George Russell do at the Miami Grand Prix?

George Russell had arguably his worst weekend of the 2026 season, finishing fourth in the sprint race and qualifying fifth for the Grand Prix, well behind teammate Kimi Antonelli, raising further questions about his title credentials.

Why are some Celtic fans hoping Hearts win the league?

Several Celtic supporters, including the hosts, argue that a Celtic title this season would mask a squad that has gotten worse due to board inaction and minimal spending, potentially letting ownership avoid accountability heading into next season.

Is F1 better on Apple TV than it was on ESPN?

The hosts aren't convinced. They feel the Apple TV package offers less archived content and a clunkier in-car camera experience than the old F1 TV service, despite costing more per year.

If you only take one thing from this episode, it's this: the 2026 Miami Grand Prix confirmed Kimi Antonelli is the form driver in Formula 1 right now, and Hearts are three matches away from one of the greatest title upsets Scottish football has ever seen. Both storylines are moving fast, and neither is guaranteed to look the same by the time the next episode drops.

Catch the full conversation — including the IndyCar Grand Prix of Indianapolis preview and all the Indy 500 buildup — before results overtake this recap.

Listen to the Episode

Hear the full breakdown of the Hearts vs Rangers classic and the 2026 Miami Grand Prix, plus IndyCar's May schedule, on Episode 166 of Tackling the Chicane.

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