Kimi Antonelli delivered an outstanding performance in the final qualifying session for the Miami Grand Prix, securing pole position ahead of a revitalised Max Verstappen and his Red Bull team. The young Italian, who had previously been hampered by a track‑limits penalty that relegated him to sixth place in the Sprint race, rebounded spectacularly to lead the grid for Sunday's main event.
The qualifying drama unfolded with all four of the sport's traditional front‑running outfits—Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren—showing flashes of speed that suggested any of them could claim the top spot. Antonelli, however, set a blistering lap of 1:27.798 in Q3, establishing a clear benchmark that left his rivals scrambling. Although a minor mistake at the start of his final flying lap prevented him from improving that time, his effort was still sufficient to keep a comfortable margin over the competition.
Verstappen, piloting a heavily upgraded Red Bull, managed a best lap that was roughly two‑tenths slower than Antonelli’s pole time, earning him a solid second place on the grid. Charles Leclerc, driving a similarly overhauled Ferrari, completed the front row, finishing about three‑tenths off the pace.
The gap between the top three and the rest of the field underscored the significance of the upgrades that the leading teams have introduced after a five‑week hiatus caused by the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian rounds. George Russell, Antonelli’s teammate at Mercedes, could only manage fifth place, trailing his compatriot by four‑tenths of a second. This result placed him behind the McLaren pair of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who occupied fourth and seventh respectively after a "reality check" that saw their Sprint‑race dominance evaporate in the full‑qualifying format. Lewis Hamilton, who had announced major setup changes for his car, qualified sixth, edging closer to his Ferrari teammate Leclerc than he had in the Sprint session.
The top ten order after qualifying mirrored the arrangement from Friday’s Sprint, with Franco Colapinto in the Alpine securing eighth, followed by Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar in ninth—still a substantial 0.8 seconds slower than his teammate Verstappen—and Pierre Gasly rounding out the top ten in the second Alpine. The consistency of this lineup highlighted the competitive balance that the recent aerodynamic and power‑unit upgrades have brought to the midfield.
Weather played a pivotal role in the weekend’s narrative. While Miami had been basking in intense sunshine throughout the practice and Sprint sessions, the forecast for Sunday indicated the possibility of heavy rain and thunderstorms.
In response, race officials, after consulting with the FIA and the Grand Prix organisers, decided to move the race start forward by three hours, shifting it to 6 p.m. UK time (1 p.m.
local) to avoid the anticipated downpour later in the afternoon. Antonelli’s pole marked his third consecutive pole position in his first three Grand Prix appearances, a feat previously achieved only by legends such as Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher.
Reflecting on his achievement, Antonelli said, "It’s been an amazing day to be on pole again. The Sprint didn’t go our way, but I’m super happy with the recovery.
I got a bit excited on the last lap in Q3, but the first lap was good enough and I’m really happy with that." Verstappen, who had struggled to find a consistent feel for his car earlier in the season, expressed optimism after his strong qualifying performance. "It’s an incredible turnaround for us," he remarked. "I didn’t feel in control of the car until this weekend.
The team brought a great performance upgrade that made the car much more driveable, and it clicked as soon as I got back in it. Being on the front row is a pleasant surprise and a massive boost for the whole team." McLaren, despite their Sprint triumph, faced a sobering reality in the full qualifying.
Norris explained, "The wind was different, the direction changed, and the temperatures were higher. Both cars struggled a bit more than yesterday, and we need to understand why. It’s not that we did a bad job, but the competition stepped up. Mercedes are as quick as us, and when you compare GPS data from Ferrari and Red Bull, they’re quicker in many sectors.
Qualifying was a reality check, but it shows where we should be aiming." The revised schedule for Sunday includes the F2 Feature Race at 2.25 p.m., followed by the Miami Grand Prix at 6 p.m., with post‑race analysis and reaction shows later in the evening. Fans can watch the action live on Sky Sports F1 or stream via NOW, with flexible subscription options.
In summary, Antonelli’s pole position not only showcases his rapid rise within Formula 1 but also signals a potentially tighter championship battle as Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes each demonstrate significant performance gains. The upcoming race, set against the backdrop of shifting weather conditions, promises to be a decisive test for the teams and drivers as the 2026 season gains momentum.