Lando Norris Claims Miami GP Sprint Pole, Beats Kimi Antonelli
Lando Norris secured sprint pole at the Miami International Autodrome, edging out Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli by 0.222 seconds.
The result marks the first time this season that Mercedes has not taken pole in any format.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri completed the podium, finishing third in the sprint qualifying session.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc recorded the fastest time in the earlier 90‑minute free‑practice, posting a 1:29.310 lap.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was second fastest in practice, followed closely by Piastri.
Tomorrow’s schedule features the sprint race at noon ET, followed by the Grand Prix qualifying at 4 p.m. ET.
The sprint grid places Norris on pole, Antonelli on the front row, and Piastri in third.
Mercedes driver George Russell qualified sixth, while teammate Lewis Hamilton started seventh.
Alpine’s Franco Colapinto secured eighth, with Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar in ninth.
Audis Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg lined up eleventh and twelfth respectively.
Haas driver Mick Bearman started thirteenth, with Williams’ Alex Albon in fourteenth.
Williams’ Carlos Sainz occupied fifteenth, while Racing Bulls’ Oliver Lindblad started sixteenth.
Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson was seventeenth, and Haas’ Esteban Ocon eighteenth.
Cadillac’s Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas started nineteenth and twentieth.
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll filled the final two grid positions.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown praised the team’s upgrade package, noting a strong track record of late‑season performance.
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies confirmed that Max Verstappen’s race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase will join McLaren as chief racing officer by 2028.
Mekies emphasized Red Bull’s openness about personnel moves, describing Lambiase’s departure as an “extraordinary opportunity.”
Brown responded by highlighting Andrea Stella’s continued role as McLaren team principal and his confidence in the pit‑wall staff.
Lando Norris described the pole as “a perfect result for us” and credited recent upgrades for restored grip.
He added that the Miami circuit has always been a favorite both on and off the track.
Kimi Antonelli, the Mercedes rookie, posted a 1:28.091 lap to claim second place in sprint qualifying.
His performance keeps Mercedes on the front row for the sprint race despite the team’s earlier dominance.
Oscar Piastri’s 1:27.869 lap placed him just 0.017 seconds behind Norris, underscoring McLaren’s one‑two strength.
Charles Leclerc’s sprint qualifying time of 1:28.239 left him fourth, 0.370 seconds off the pole.
Max Verstappen recorded a 1:28.461 lap, positioning him fifth and indicating a “positive step” for Red Bull.
Verstappen remarked that the car felt more cohesive, though work remained in the high‑speed first sector.
Lewis Hamilton expressed disappointment with Ferrari’s pace, noting the car did not feel “particularly great.”
He indicated the team would work overnight to improve performance for the upcoming race.
George Russell observed the rapid progress of McLaren and Ferrari, calling it “pretty damn impressive.”
He acknowledged Miami’s unique challenges, emphasizing that sprint qualifying is only a part of the weekend.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc highlighted tire performance issues, praising the medium compound while criticising the soft.
He suggested that race pace remains stronger than qualifying, but further development is needed.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen noted the gap to the front‑row cars has been halved compared with the first two races.
He emphasized the need for continued work, particularly on the high‑speed sector.
McLaren’s upgrade package includes aerodynamic refinements and updated suspension geometry introduced for the Miami event.
These changes have been credited with delivering the grip Norris described after sprint qualifying.
Mercedes entered the weekend with a strong start to the season, winning the first three races.
However, the Miami sprint qualifying results suggest the gap to rivals is narrowing.
The sprint race offers eight championship points for the winner, making pole position highly valuable.
Should Norris convert pole to victory, McLaren could close the constructors’ points gap to Mercedes.
Ferrari’s practice pace indicates potential for a strong race showing, despite qualifying setbacks.
Red Bull’s improved performance may translate into a competitive sprint race, challenging the traditional front‑row dominance.
The following table summarises the top five sprint qualifying results:
| Position | Driver | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lando Norris (McLaren) | 1:27.869 |
| 2 | Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) | +0.222 |
| 3 | Oscar Piastri (McLaren) | +0.239 |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) | +0.370 |
| 5 | Max Verstappen (Red Bull) | +0.592 |
The sprint qualifying session demonstrated a tightly packed field, with only 0.592 seconds separating first and fifth.
This closeness hints at a potentially thrilling sprint race where overtaking and strategy will be decisive.
McLaren’s strategic focus on early‑season upgrades appears to be paying dividends at a critical juncture.
Mercedes will look to leverage Antonelli’s strong showing to maintain momentum after a dominant start.
Ferrari’s mixed signals between practice speed and qualifying performance suggest a need for rapid adaptation.
Red Bull’s optimism stems from a reduced performance gap, yet the team acknowledges ongoing challenges.
Overall, the Miami weekend could serve as a turning point in the 2026 championship narrative.
Veezstream’s live coverage captured the excitement and provided real‑time updates throughout the session.
Fans worldwide will be watching closely as the sprint race unfolds tomorrow.
