Lando Norris acknowledged that McLaren experienced a sobering "reality check" after he secured a fourth‑place start for the Miami Grand Prix. Up until the qualifying session, Norris had been enjoying a dominant weekend, having turned his Sprint pole position into a full‑race victory. However, the momentum that McLaren seemed to have built was abruptly erased when Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli clinched pole for Sunday's main event, edging out Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. Antonelli's lap time was almost four‑tenths of a second quicker than Norris's, prompting the Briton to suggest that the rival teams simply executed their qualifying runs more effectively than they had during the Sprint qualifying.
"Both cars clearly struggled a little more than on Friday, and we need to understand why," Norris told Sky Sports F1. "That said, I don’t feel we performed badly. It’s just that other teams did a better job on Friday and today they delivered the performance they were supposed to." He went on to point out that Mercedes was just as quick as McLaren, noting that when you compare the GPS data from Ferrari and Red Bull, there are numerous sectors where those teams were faster.
"We did an excellent job yesterday and in the Sprint to win, but qualifying was a bit of a reality check – it showed us where we truly belong and where we should be, honestly." Norris admitted that the surprise on Friday stemmed from a combination of McLaren’s strong execution and the fact that other competitors faltered. "We were surprised by how quick we were on Friday, but that was as much about us doing a good job as it was about others not delivering.
Today the balance shifted – we struggled a little, but we didn’t do a terrible job." Both McLaren drivers also dealt with minor power‑unit gremlins that hampered their overall performance. Oscar Piastri, the Australian teammate, barely made it into Q2, qualifying sixteenth, and later managed only seventh on the grid. He confirmed that his car’s deployment issues persisted into the final stage of qualifying. "It was a tough session, very variable – wind, track conditions, what the power unit wants to do – it felt a bit random, especially on the last lap of Q3," Piastri explained.
"I thought I had a good run through Turns 4‑6, then something odd happened. My middle sector looked strong because I lost a lot of time with a super‑clip I didn’t expect, which gave me extra energy on the back straight, making that sector look fast." Verstappen entered Miami eager to "escape the midfield" after a three‑race stretch without a top‑five finish – a slump he hadn’t experienced since 2017. The Red Bull driver has since found the car more planted in the corners, and his lap times improved dramatically, leaving him just under two‑tenths of a second off Antonelli’s pole time.
"It’s an incredible turnaround for us. I really didn’t feel in control of the car until this weekend. I didn’t know what would happen with it," Verstappen told Sky Sports F1. "The team introduced a very effective performance upgrade that made the car far more driveable for me, and it clicked as soon as I got back in the cockpit – it felt great, a lot better." He added that securing a front‑row start was a pleasant surprise and a huge morale boost for the whole Red Bull operation.
"Being on the front row is unexpected, but we’ll take it. It’s a massive boost for the team and shows we’re heading in the right direction," he said.
Red Bull’s technical director, Laurent Mekies, hinted that the team still has work to do, noting that "we don’t have everything fixed yet," suggesting further upgrades could be on the horizon. The forecast of rain for Sunday adds another variable, potentially turning Verstappen into an even greater threat during the race. Mekies elaborated on the extensive development effort that took place after the Japanese Grand Prix.
"We left Japan knowing we had serious homework to do to understand the limitations we were facing. Max and the team didn’t have anything they could push with, regardless of where the competition stood. There has been amazing work – 360‑degree development in Milton Keynes on the chassis and power‑unit sides – to get to the root of what was holding us back," he explained.
Lewis Hamilton, mirroring his Sprint qualifying performance, ended up sixth on the grid, just two‑tenths off his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc – the closest raw pace Hamilton has shown all weekend. Ferrari introduced eleven upgrades, including a new suspension layout and revised floor, but Hamilton highlighted ongoing power‑unit concerns. "The car was much better in qualifying, so I don’t think we had any power issues. That was the best it’s been all weekend," Hamilton said.
"We changed the car, and I was much, much happier with it. I wish we’d started the weekend with that balance. Q2 felt solid, but in Q3 I struggled to extract the maximum." When asked about the effectiveness of Ferrari’s upgrades, Hamilton responded, "I’m not sure if they’ve given us more confidence yet, but the team did a great job bringing the upgrades.
They’ve worked incredibly hard, and I’m very grateful for that." He also noted that other teams are pursuing different development paths, and McLaren must stay vigilant. "Clearly other teams are doing different things with their cars, so we need to keep an eye on that. I know we’re pushing hard, there’s more to come, and I think there’s still extra performance to extract from what we have now.
We’re still a bit slower on the straights, but we improved a lot in this session. Before this weekend we were four‑to‑five tenths off on the straights; I’m not sure if that gap still exists, but I feel we’ve taken a step forward. It doesn’t show in my result yet, but I’m optimistic for the race." The weekend schedule includes a packed lineup: Sunday, May 3, will see the F2 Feature Race at 2.25 pm, followed by a build‑up segment for the Miami Grand Prix at 4 pm, the main race at 6 pm, a post‑race reaction show at 8 pm, and a final recap at 9 pm.
All events will be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event and streamed via NOW, with no contract required and the option to cancel at any time. As the 2026 Formula 1 season resumes in Miami, fans can watch the action live on Sky Sports F1.
The combination of upgraded machinery, strategic adjustments, and unpredictable weather promises an exciting showdown on the streets of Miami, where the battle for points, pride, and momentum will shape the narrative of the championship for months to come.