Kimi Antonelli made a big impact in Miami by securing an unexpected pole. Mercedes takes the lead again against Verstappen and Leclerc after a scorching session.
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While McLaren had dominated the Sprint a few hours earlier, Mercedes completely reversed the trend during the main qualifying. In stifling heat exceeding 50°C on track, the cards were reshuffled at the most important moment of the weekend.
It was ultimately Kimi Antonelli who created the sensation by setting an exceptional lap in Q3, allowing the German team to reclaim pole position against very sharp competition.
A tricky Q1, Piastri narrowly avoids disaster
From the first phase, the tone was set with an extremely tight pack. Max Verstappen quickly established a solid benchmark, but Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, and Antonelli immediately positioned themselves in his slipstream.
The tension rose a notch at the end of the session, especially for Oscar Piastri, who came very close to elimination. The Australian ultimately secured his qualification for Q2 in the very last seconds, perfectly illustrating the difficulty of this session.
The second part of qualifying spared no one. Norris, struggling with track limits and energy deployment, was in danger until the final moments.
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Meanwhile, Max Verstappen and Antonelli began to pull slightly ahead, hinting at a direct duel for pole. Despite an increasingly tricky track, the gaps remained minimal, confirming the intensity of the battle.
Antonelli strikes hard in Q3 against Verstappen and Leclerc
The final phase lived up to all expectations. Norris first set a reference time, quickly beaten by Verstappen then by Charles Leclerc by just a few thousandths.
But in an impressive last effort, Antonelli delivered a perfect lap in 1’27’’798, putting his rivals at a distance. Despite a final attempt, neither Leclerc nor Verstappen managed to do better, the Dutchman falling short by only two tenths.
With Antonelli on pole, Verstappen and Leclerc just behind, and Norris lurking, the grid promises an intense battle among four different teams. George Russell and Oscar Piastri, struggling more, complete the top ranks without managing to match their respective teammates.
After a difficult Sprint, Mercedes thus marks a resounding comeback and fully revives its weekend.
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2026 Miami GP F1 Qualifying Results:
