Kimi Antonelli delivered an outstanding performance in the final qualifying session for the Miami Grand Prix, clinching pole position ahead of a resurgent Max Verstappen and his Red Bull team. The Italian rookie, who had previously been hampered by a track‑limits penalty that dropped him to sixth place in the Sprint race, rebounded spectacularly to post the fastest lap of the weekend and set a new benchmark for the rest of the field. The qualifying drama unfolded with all four of the traditional "big four" manufacturers – Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren – appearing capable of taking the top spot at various moments.
Antonelli’s decisive Q3 lap of 1:27.798 was not only a personal best but also a clear signal that his Mercedes was finally finding the balance that had been elusive earlier in the season. Although a minor mistake at the start of his final attempt prevented him from shaving off a few more tenths, his time remained comfortably ahead of Verstappen, who finished second in a heavily upgraded Red Bull, and Charles Leclerc, whose Ferrari was also benefitting from a substantial overhaul. Both Verstappen and Leclerc were roughly two‑to‑three tenths slower than Antonelli’s pole time. George Russell, Antonelli’s teammate in the sister Mercedes, could not match the youngster’s pace and qualified fifth, trailing the pole sitter by four tenths.
This result placed Antonelli alongside the legendary figures Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher as the only drivers to claim the first three pole positions of their careers in consecutive Grand Prix events. 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 thrilled 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." His lead in the championship over Russell was narrowed to seven points after the Sprint penalty. For the first time in this three‑race stretch, Verstappen will line up alongside Antonelli on the front row.
The Dutch driver built on an already improved weekend for Red Bull, placing the team’s upgraded car on the front row for the first time in the 2026 season. Meanwhile, McLaren experienced what Lando Norris described as a "reality check" after dominating the Sprint. Norris and Oscar Piastri, who had secured a one‑two finish in the Sprint, slipped to fourth and seventh on the grid respectively for the main race. Lewis Hamilton qualified sixth, sandwiched between Russell and Piastri, and was marginally closer to his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc than he had been in the Sprint qualifying.
The remainder of the top ten mirrored Friday’s order: Franco Colapinto eighth for Alpine, Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar ninth (still a full 0.8 seconds off Verstappen’s pace), and Pierre Gasly tenth in the second Alpine. Weather conditions added another layer of complexity.
While Miami had been drenched in intense sunshine throughout the weekend, forecasts predicted rain and possible thunderstorms for Sunday. After qualifying, officials consulted with the FIA and the race organizers, ultimately deciding to move the race start forward by three hours to 6 p.m.
UK time (1 p.m. local) to avoid the anticipated heavy showers later in the afternoon.
The starting grid, as confirmed after the adjustments, was: 1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) 2.
Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 4. Lando Norris (McLaren) 5.
George Russell (Mercedes) 6. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) 7. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) 8.
Franco Colapinto (Alpine) 9. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) 10. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) Following a five‑week hiatus caused by the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian rounds, eleven of the twelve teams arrived in Miami with a suite of upgrades aimed at improving aerodynamic efficiency and power unit performance.
The collective impact of these enhancements was evident at the front of the pack, where McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull all appeared capable of challenging Mercedes for the early championship lead—a stark contrast to the relative parity seen in the opening three rounds of the season. Despite McLaren’s Sprint dominance, the full qualifying session revealed that the hierarchy was still fluid.
Antonelli’s pole showed that Mercedes, especially with the young driver’s rapid adaptation, could still mount a serious challenge. Verstappen, after a strong showing in Q1 and topping Q2, fell just 0.166 seconds short of Antonelli’s best time in his final run. He admitted, "It’s an incredible turnaround for us. I didn’t feel in control of the car until this weekend.
The team introduced a substantial 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 surprise, but it’s a massive boost for the whole team and shows we’re heading in the right direction." McLaren, however, faced a slight regression after their Sprint success. Both Norris and Piastri recorded lap times slower than those set during Sprint qualifying.
Norris explained, "There were small factors – wind direction changed, temperatures shifted – but that affected everyone. Our cars seemed to struggle a bit more today, and we need to understand why. It’s not that we performed poorly; other teams simply improved and delivered what they needed to. Mercedes are as quick as us, and when you compare GPS data from Ferrari and Red Bull, they have many sectors where they’re faster.
We did a great job in the Sprint, but qualifying was a reality check and showed where we truly stand." The weekend schedule continues with the F2 Feature Race at 2.25 p.m. on Sunday, followed by the main Grand Prix at 6 p.m. UK time.
Fans can stream the action live via Sky Sports F1 or NOW, with flexible subscription options available. The Miami Grand Prix promises to be a pivotal moment in the 2026 season, as teams test the limits of their upgrades and drivers vie for crucial points in the early championship battle.