Lando Norris claimed pole position for the Miami GP Sprint Qualifying with a stunning time of 1:27.869, marking McLaren’s first pole of the 2026 F1 season. This momentous achievement ended Mercedes’ streak of dominance in qualifying sessions, shaking up the competitive landscape of Formula 1.
The atmosphere at the Miami International Autodrome buzzed with excitement as Norris outpaced his rivals, securing his place at the front of the grid. Kimi Antonelli followed closely, just two-tenths behind, while Oscar Piastri rounded out the top three. Charles Leclerc, who had led during practice, found himself in fourth, and Max Verstappen took fifth place ahead of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.
Norris expressed his joy post-qualifying: “I feel very good. I’m very happy for the team.” He acknowledged the hard work that went into McLaren’s recent upgrades, stating, “It’s always a lot of expectations. A lot of work has gone into trying to bring these upgrades.” George Russell also commented on McLaren’s impressive leap forward: “Pretty surprising how big a jump McLaren and Ferrari made. That’s pretty damn impressive.”
Mercedes had introduced fewer upgrades compared to their competitors—an unusual strategy that may have contributed to their struggle this time around. While they still remain formidable contenders in the championship, this qualifying session highlighted a potential shift in power dynamics within F1.
In total, ten cars were eliminated during the new qualifying format, which sees six cars knocked out in SQ1 and SQ2. Notably, Lance Stroll failed to set a time due to an early spin, while Fernando Alonso faced issues that left him significantly slower than his rivals.
With this unexpected turn of events, many are eager to see how the race unfolds. As teams prepare for tomorrow’s main event at the Miami GP, observers are keenly watching whether McLaren can convert this momentum into a podium finish.
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