Norris edges Antonelli for Miami Sprint pole, breaks Mercedes' dominance
Synopsis
Lando Norris shattered Mercedes' unbeaten qualifying run this season with a scintillating lap at Miami, edging Kimi Antonelli to secure sprint pole. The result signals McLaren's technical upgrades are finally closing the gap—and the championship battle just got tighter.
Key Takeaways
Lando Norris secured pole position for the Miami Grand Prix sprint with a lap time of 1:27.869 .
Norris edged Mercedes championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 0.222 seconds .
Oscar Piastri qualified third and Charles Leclerc fourth; Max Verstappen took fifth.
This is the first time McLaren has knocked Mercedes off pole position this season.
George Russell qualified sixth and acknowledged McLaren and Ferrari's significant pace improvement.
The 100km sprint takes place on Saturday , with the main Grand Prix on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium .
Lando Norris delivered a masterclass in qualifying to secure pole position for the Miami Grand Prix sprint race on Saturday, clocking 1:27.869 and edging Mercedes championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 0.222 seconds. The Formula One world champion's effort marks the first time this season that McLaren has knocked Mercedes off pole position, signalling a significant shift in the competitive order ahead of the fourth round at Hard Rock Stadium.
Norris capitalises on track knowledge and upgrades
The British driver, who raced twice in Miami last season and won the sprint there, leveraged his familiarity with the circuit and recent car upgrades to outpace the field. Norris praised the technical improvements that have restored confidence in the machine. "A perfect result for us. A nice way to reward the team," he said. "We have a lot of new upgrades on the car. It's nice to feel some grip again and to reward the guys and the girls that have put a lot of work into this."
Mercedes' winning streak interrupted
Mercedes had dominated the opening three races of the season, but Antonelli's second-place finish in qualifying signals cracks in that dominance. George Russell, currently second in the championship standings, qualified sixth and expressed candid surprise at the pace shown by McLaren and Ferrari. "Pretty surprising how big a jump McLaren and Ferrari made. That's pretty damn impressive," Russell acknowledged, while admitting his own struggles with the Miami circuit in hot conditions.
The rest of the grid
Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc qualified third and fourth respectively, with Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing taking fifth. Lewis Hamilton and Franco Colapinto rounded out the top eight. Isack Hadjar and Pierre Gasly completed the top 10, while Aston Martin endured another difficult session with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll qualifying near the back of the grid, even behind newcomers Cadillac.
Looking ahead to the sprint and main race
Norris remained measured in his outlook despite securing pole. "I've always loved Miami on and off the track. It's the beginning of the weekend, so still a long way to go but nice to tick things off by doing this," he said. The 100km sprint will take place on Saturday, with the main Grand Prix following on Sunday. McLaren's resurgence comes at a critical juncture in the season, as the team seeks to capitalise on its technical gains against Mercedes' established advantage.
Point of View
And they've arrived at a moment when Mercedes' early-season dominance was beginning to look unassailable. The gap closing mid-season, especially with Russell admitting surprise, suggests the field is tightening. However, qualifying pace and race pace are different beasts; Mercedes' consistency in the opening three races is no accident. Watch whether Norris can convert pole into sprint and main-race wins, or whether Mercedes' superior race-day execution reasserts itself by Sunday.
NationPress
20 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who secured pole position for the Miami Grand Prix sprint?
Lando Norris of McLaren secured pole position with a lap time of 1:27.869, edging Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli by 0.222 seconds.
Is this the first time McLaren has taken pole this season?
Yes. This is the first time McLaren has knocked Mercedes off pole position in the 2026 season. Mercedes had dominated qualifying in the opening three races.
What is the format of the Miami Grand Prix weekend?
The weekend includes a 100km sprint race on Saturday, followed by the main Grand Prix on Sunday, both held at Hard Rock Stadium.
How did George Russell perform in qualifying?
George Russell, currently second in the championship, qualified sixth. He acknowledged surprise at the pace shown by McLaren and Ferrari, while admitting his own struggles with Miami's hot conditions.
Which other teams struggled in Miami qualifying?
Aston Martin endured a difficult session, with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll qualifying near the back of the grid, even behind the newly entered Cadillac team.
