Kimi Antonelli delivered an outstanding performance in the final qualifying session for the Miami Grand Prix, clinching pole position ahead of a revitalised Max Verstappen and his Red Bull teammate. The young Mercedes driver, who had previously been limited to sixth place in the sprint race after receiving a track‑limits penalty, rebounded spectacularly to top the grid for Sunday's main event. The qualifying drama unfolded with all four of the sport's leading teams—Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren—showing genuine chances of taking the top spot at various points. Antonelli ultimately set a blistering lap of 1:27.798 in Q3, establishing a benchmark that forced the rest of the field to chase a fast and steady rhythm.
Although a minor mistake at the start of his final flying lap prevented him from improving that time, he still finished comfortably ahead of Verstappen, who posted a lap just two‑tenths slower, and Charles Leclerc, whose Ferrari was also heavily upgraded for the weekend. George Russell, Antonelli's teammate at Mercedes, could not match the teenager's pace and qualified fifth, trailing the pole sitter by four‑tenths of a second. This result marked the third consecutive pole for Antonelli, placing him in elite company with legends such as Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher, who each secured three successive pole positions early in their careers. "It’s been an amazing day to be on pole again," Antonelli said after the session.
"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 drivers' championship over Russell was narrowed to seven points after the sprint penalty, underscoring how quickly the standings can shift.
For the first time in this three‑race stretch, Verstappen will line up alongside Antonelli on the front row. The Dutch driver has built on a promising start to the weekend, delivering an upgraded Red Bull that finally feels competitive after a sluggish start to the season.
His qualifying effort placed him just 0.166 seconds off the pole time, a remarkable improvement that reflects the impact of the team's recent aerodynamic and mechanical upgrades. McLaren, meanwhile, experienced a sobering reality check. After dominating the sprint format, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri slipped to fourth and seventh on the grid respectively.
Norris described the shift as a combination of changing wind direction, temperature variations, and subtle setup differences that hampered the team's performance compared with the sprint session. Lewis Hamilton qualified sixth in the other Ferrari, edging closer to teammate Charles Leclerc than he had in the sprint qualifying.
The rest of the top ten mirrored Friday’s order, with Franco Colapinto (Alpine) eighth, Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar ninth, and Pierre Gasly (Alpine) tenth. Weather has been a factor throughout the weekend. While Miami has enjoyed intense sunshine so far, forecasts predict rain and possible thunderstorms on Sunday. Race officials, in consultation with the FIA and the Miami Grand Prix organizers, decided to move the start time forward by three hours to 6 p.m.
UK time (1 p.m. local) to avoid the anticipated heavy rain later in the afternoon. The qualifying results also highlighted the extensive development work carried out by most teams after a forced five‑week hiatus caused by the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian rounds. Upgrades to aerodynamics, power units and suspension geometry have narrowed the performance gap that existed early in the 2026 season.
Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren all appear more capable of challenging Mercedes on pure pace than they were during the opening three rounds in March. Verstappen’s comments after his qualifying run reflected his renewed optimism: "It’s an incredible turnaround for us. I didn’t feel in control of the car until this weekend, but the upgrade package made it much more driveable. To be 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." Norris acknowledged that McLaren’s slower laps compared with the sprint were not solely a result of driver error: "There were little things – wind, temperature, direction – that affected both cars.
We still did a great job in the sprint, but qualifying was a reality check. It shows where we need to be and where we actually are." Looking ahead, the Miami Grand Prix promises an exciting showdown. Antonelli’s pole position underscores his rapid rise and the resurgence of Mercedes, while Verstappen’s upgraded Red Bull suggests a tightening championship battle.
Ferrari’s Leclerc and Hamilton will aim to capitalize on their strong qualifying positions, and McLaren will seek to translate sprint success into a full‑race performance. The weekend schedule continues with an 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 the NOW platform, with flexible subscription options and no long‑term contracts. The Miami Grand Prix will not only test driver skill and team strategy but also the ability of each outfit to adapt to rapidly changing weather conditions and the ever‑evolving technical landscape of Formula 1.