Miami Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying: Lando Norris on pole, Ferrari flop, Mercedes struggle
F1 NewsFriday, 01 May 2026 at 23:20
Reigning Formula 1 Champion, Lando Norris, took pole for the Sprint Race of the Miami Grand Prix beating favorite Charles Leclerc in the final stage of qualifying.
Norris did not look like a contender for pole as Sprint Qualifying started as he was seventh in SQ2 as Charles Leclerc and Ferrari looked as favorites for pole.
But then, Leclerc failed to put in a decent lap in SQ3 while Norris did and managed to take pole, making the most out of his heavily upgraded McLaren MCL40 with a lap time of 1:27.869.
Mercedes had a bad Friday, in their standards that is, as they had turbo and power unit issues in practice while they were off the pace probably paying the price of getting a W17 with no upgrades this weekend as McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull Racing brought huge upgrades packages.
However, Kimi Antonelli did a decent job after going last in SQ3 to take second place, 0.222 behind Norris as Oscar Piastri was third fastest in the other McLaren, who was 0.017s further down the road.
Disappointment of the day must be Leclerc and Ferrari after showing so much promise in practice and early on in qualifying, but the Monegasque couldn't find a decent lap time on Soft tyres in SQ3 and had to settle for fourth, 0.370s off the pace.
Max Verstappen, in the revised Red Bull RB22, did not set the world alight, but managed to mix it up higher up the grid and ended up fifth fastest, beating George Russell in the Mercedes who was sixth fastest.
Lewis Hamilton was always playing catch up with Leclerc and as a result he was seventh fastest with Franco Colapinto doing a decent job to go eighth fastest for Alpine.
Isack Hadjar was ninth as Pierre Gasly completed the top ten.
SQ1: Despite upgrades, both Cadillacs out but closer
The hot and humid conditions continued from the first practice session to the start of Sprint Qualifying as track temperature was 52 degrees Celsius with air temperature at 30 degrees.
As per the regulations, the driver head out on track for the 12-minute SQ1 with Medium tyres bolted to their cars.
The drivers took their time but then poured out on track all together over one minute after the green light.
Russell and Antonelli had a bit of a misunderstanding when exiting their respective garages, no drama though.
Kimi and George get a little too close for comfort at the start of SQ1! 🫣🤏#F1Sprint #MiamiGP pic.twitter.com/bSXuYaIwZy
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 1, 2026
As soon as the drivers started pushing, the Yellow flag came out as Lance Stroll locked up and ended up in the run-off area at the penultimate corner.
The Canadian was soon on his way but not before ruining the laps of several drivers. He returned to the pits and parked his car.
🟡 YELLOW ➡️ GREEN 🟢
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 1, 2026
Lance Stroll comes to a halt at Turn 12 before getting going again #F1Sprint #MiamiGP pic.twitter.com/kY6u8c56h8
Norris and Piastri were on flying laps and had to back off while Leclerc, who was behind them managed to finish his lap.
In the end of SQ1, Norris, after an early compromise with the Yellow flag, managed to go fastest with a lap time of 1:28.723, 0.010s faster than Leclerc who was second while Piastri was third fastest, 0.446s off the pace.
The rest of the top 16 were: Hamilton - Antonelli - Russell - Verstappen - Gasly - Nico Hulkenberg - Hadjar - Colapinto - Gabriel Bortoleto - Oliver Bearman - Arvid Lindblad - Carlos Sainz - Alex Albon.
Eliminated in SQ1 where led by Liam Lawson who was 17th fastest missing out by 0.055s to Albon and was followed by Esteban Ocon, 18th in the Haas as Sergio Perez was 19th in the Cadillac.
Valtteri Bottas was 20th in the other Cadillac with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll 21st and 22nd respectively.
SQ2: No improvement for Williams, both cars out
The remaining 16 cars made their way out on track for SQ2 with Medium tyres still the compound mandated by the rules.
Verstappen had a moment with Gasly while exiting he pitlane.
Soo close to an endplate being lost! 😳
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 1, 2026
Verstappen JUST gets past Gasly in the pit lane there! 👀#F1Sprint #MiamiGP pic.twitter.com/m6vhKjYxDS
Russell and Antonelli went first and second respectively but then Verstappen came second while Leclerc followed to take the top spot by quite a margin as Hamilton followed him to take second fastest.
Then came the McLarens as Piastri went second fastest while Norris managed only seventh after a mistake at the 14/15 chicane.
It's a Ferrari 1-2 with five minutes of SQ2 to go... 😮💨
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 1, 2026
But Piastri puts in a lap for P2 and splits Leclerc and Hamilton! 👀#F1Sprint #MiamiGP pic.twitter.com/7VzeyRzQSG
Antonelli radioed his team reporting that he was struggling with locking as replay showed he locked up into Turn 17 and ran wide.
With around two minutes remaining, the final round of laps began and in the end Leclerc maintained his lead with a lap time of 1:28.333, 0.173s faster than Piastri in second as Hamilton was third, 0.508s off his teammate.
The rest of top ten: Russell - Verstappen - Antonelli - Norris - Colapinto - Hadjar - Gasly.
Those missing out on SQ3 were Bortoleto who was 11th fastest missing out by just 0.021s with Hulkenberg behind him in 12th.
Bearman was 13th fastest in the Haas and was followed by Albon in the Williams who was 14th as Sainz was 15th in the sister car.
Lindblad was 16th in the Yellow VCARB03.
SQ3: Norris keeps his best for last
Finally, with ten cars remaining, the Soft tyres were out as the drivers head out on track for their final runs.
The teams took their times and did not send their drivers out with the green light opting for one timed-lap in SQ3.
The drivers went out on track with four minutes remaining on the clock. Mercedes kept Antonelli in the garage till the last possible moment so he would be the final driver to start a lap.
Ferrari. McLaren. Mercedes. 🧐
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 1, 2026
Which team will it be to secure Sprint Pole in Miami? 👀#F1Sprint #MiamiGP pic.twitter.com/Aeb53GviEG
Russell went first with Hamilton and Norris in his wake. The Mercedes went to the top as Hamilton was second while Norris went to the top as Leclerc made his way around the track.
Leclerc was only second fastest, 0.370s behind Norris as Verstappen came along to take third fastest.
Then Piastri took second as Antonelli was on his lap, but manages only second, over two tenths off the pace of Norris.
Miami Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying Provisional Classification
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