Mercedes had dominated the first three races of the season, leaving little room for competitors. However, Norris’s performance—0.222 seconds quicker than Kimi Antonelli—signals a shift in momentum. George Russell noted how surprising it is that both McLaren and Ferrari have made significant advancements. The upgrades they brought to Miami have clearly paid off.

Key statistics from qualifying:

• Norris secured pole position for the 19-lap sprint race.
• Kimi Antonelli finished just 0.4 seconds behind him.
• Charles Leclerc was 0.164 seconds faster than Max Verstappen in practice.

The sprint race will kick off at 17:00 BST on Saturday, May 2, followed by the main race on Sunday at 21:00 BST. With new upgrades across several teams, including McLaren’s impressive showing, fans can expect fierce competition ahead.

Yet uncertainties linger regarding how these changes will affect the drivers’ championship standings. Currently, Kimi Antonelli holds a nine-point lead over George Russell. As teams prepare for race day, all eyes will be on how they adapt to Miami’s challenging conditions and each other’s strategies.

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This remarkable achievement ends Mercedes’ qualifying dominance, as Kimi Antonelli qualified second—just two tenths behind Norris—while Oscar Piastri rounded out the top three. Charles Leclerc, who led practice earlier, finished fourth, and Max Verstappen placed fifth. George Russell and Lewis Hamilton followed in sixth and seventh, respectively, with Hamilton notably having set faster times in earlier sessions.

Key qualifying results:

• Lando Norris: 1:27.869 (Pole Position)
• Kimi Antonelli: +0.222 seconds
• Oscar Piastri: +0.239 seconds
• Charles Leclerc: +0.370 seconds
• Max Verstappen: +0.592 seconds
• George Russell: +0.624 seconds
• Lewis Hamilton: +0.749 seconds
• Franco Colapinto: Eighth
• Pierre Gasly: Tenth

The backdrop to this shift includes significant upgrades introduced by McLaren for this race—upgrades that appear to have paid off handsomely. In contrast, Mercedes has rolled out fewer enhancements compared to both McLaren and Ferrari, which raises questions about their ongoing competitiveness.

George Russell remarked on the surprising leap made by McLaren and Ferrari, stating, “Pretty surprising how big a jump McLaren and Ferrari made. That’s pretty damn impressive.” Meanwhile, Lando Norris expressed satisfaction with his performance and the team’s efforts, saying, “I feel very good. I’m very happy for the team.” He added that expectations were high due to the hard work invested in these upgrades.

The new qualifying format for 2026 features 22 cars on track, with six eliminated in SQ1 and SQ2—a format that adds a layer of complexity to each session. Notably absent from setting a time was Lance Stroll due to an early spin; Fernando Alonso also struggled with car issues that hindered his performance.

This weekend’s Miami GP Sprint will be closely watched—not just for its competitive edge but also as a potential turning point in the F1 season dynamics. Observers are eager to see if this trend continues or if Mercedes can recover their footing moving forward.

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