Kimi Antonelli delivered a flawless performance in the final qualifying session for the Miami Grand Prix, securing pole position ahead of a resurgent Max Verstappen and a heavily upgraded Red Bull. The Italian teenager, who had previously been penalised for exceeding track limits in the Sprint race that saw him finish sixth, rebounded spectacularly to post a best Q3 lap of 1:27.798, setting a daunting target for his rivals.
The qualifying session was a tense battle among the sport's traditional "big four" teams – Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren – each of which at various points appeared capable of taking the top spot. Antonelli’s pole time stood a clear two‑tenths faster than Verstappen’s effort and a further three‑tenths ahead of Charles Leclerc’s upgraded Ferrari, underscoring the speed advantage that the Mercedes‑powered youngster now enjoys. Although a small mistake on his final flying lap prevented Antonelli from shaving off a few hundredths of a second, his earlier lap was sufficient to keep him comfortably ahead of the field.
Verstappen, who had been quick from the outset – topping both Q1 and Q2 – managed a best time that left him just 0.166 seconds shy of the pole, while Leclerc rounded out the podium places. George Russell, Antonelli’s teammate at Mercedes, could only manage a fifth‑place start, missing the top four by four tenths. The gap highlighted the growing confidence of the young pole‑sitter, who has now claimed the first three pole positions of his career in three consecutive events, a feat previously achieved only by legends such as Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher. "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," Antonelli said after the session. He added that a brief surge of excitement on his final lap was unnecessary, as his earlier lap had already secured the advantage.
For the first time this season, Verstappen will line up alongside Antonelli on the front row. The Dutch driver built on an already encouraging start to the weekend, placing the upgraded Red Bull on the front row for the first time in the 2026 calendar. Meanwhile, McLaren suffered a reality check after dominating the Sprint format. Both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who had secured a one‑two sprint finish, qualified fourth and seventh respectively, indicating that the sprint success did not automatically translate to the traditional qualifying.
Lewis Hamilton qualified sixth, sandwiched between Russell and Piastri, and showed a modest improvement over his Sprint performance after announcing significant setup changes to his Ferrari. The rest of the top ten mirrored the Friday order, with Alpine’s Franco Colapinto eighth, Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar ninth, and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly completing the top ten.
Miami’s weather has been a factor all weekend. While the practice sessions have been drenched in scorching sunshine, the forecast for race day predicts rain and possible thunderstorms.
In response, race officials, in consultation with the FIA and the Grand Prix organizers, decided to move the start time three hours earlier – to 6 p.m. UK time (1 p.m. local) – to avoid the heavier rain expected later in the afternoon. The grid composition reflects the extensive upgrades that most of the eleven teams have introduced after a forced five‑week hiatus caused by the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian rounds.
McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull have all shown significant performance gains, challenging the early‑season leaders Mercedes on pure pace. Despite McLaren’s sprint dominance, the full‑weekend qualifying revealed that the hierarchy is still fluid. Mercedes, propelled by Antonelli’s strong lap, reclaimed ground, while Red Bull continued its upward trajectory.
Verstappen admitted that his car had felt “uncontrollable” earlier in the season, but the recent upgrades have made it much more manageable and competitive. "The team delivered a great performance upgrade – the car feels much more drivable and clicked as soon as I got in," Verstappen said. "Being on the front row is a pleasant surprise and a massive boost for the team.
It confirms we are heading in the right direction." McLaren, on the other hand, struggled to replicate its sprint speed in the qualifying session. Norris attributed the slowdown to subtle changes in wind direction, temperature, and overall track conditions, noting that both he and Piastri posted slower laps than in the sprint qualifying a day earlier. "There were little things – wind, temperature, direction – that affected the cars," Norris explained.
"Both of us were a bit slower, but it wasn’t a bad effort. The sprint was a great result, but qualifying gave us a reality check.
It’s about understanding where we should be and where we can improve." Looking ahead, the schedule for Sunday includes the F2 feature race at 2.25 p.m., followed by the Miami Grand Prix build‑up at 4 p.m., the race itself at 6 p.m., a post‑race reaction segment at 8 p.m., and a final analysis segment at 9 p.m. All sessions will be streamed on Sky Sports and available via the NOW platform without a contractual commitment. In summary, Antonelli’s pole position signals a significant shift in the competitive landscape as the 2026 season resumes in Miami.
His rapid ascent, coupled with the upgraded packages from Red Bull and Ferrari, promises an exciting battle for the lead as the race approaches, especially with the looming threat of rain that could further shake up strategies and outcomes.