Reigning Formula 1 World Champion Lando Norris delivered a statement performance in Sprint Qualifying at the Miami International Autodrome, securing pole position for today's Sprint race with a blistering 1:27.869s lap. The result marked McLaren's first pole of the 2026 season and the first time a non-Mercedes driver has topped a competitive qualifying session this year.
Norris, benefiting from a significant package of upgrades on the MCL40, was the only driver to dip below the 1:28 barrier in SQ3. He edged Mercedes' championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 0.222 seconds, with teammate Oscar Piastri completing a strong showing for the papaya squad in third, just 0.239s off pole.
The session highlighted the impact of the upgrades brought by several top teams after a five-week break. McLaren and Ferrari appeared to have made notable gains, closing the gap to the previously dominant Mercedes. Charles Leclerc qualified fourth in the SF-26—which featured a grid-high number of updates—having topped both FP1 and SQ2.
Max Verstappen placed fifth for Red Bull, showing improved form with their own upgrades, while George Russell could only manage sixth in the second Mercedes. Lewis Hamilton finished seventh in the other Ferrari.
SQ1 saw Norris storm to the top on mediums after an early scare, while Lance Stroll's session ended prematurely following a heavy lock-up and spin at Turn 17. The Aston Martin driver failed to set a competitive time.
In SQ2, Leclerc led the way ahead of Piastri, with Norris dropping to seventh after a drifting moment. The session claimed the Audi duo of Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg, Haas' Oliver Bearman, both Williams cars (Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz), and Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad.
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SQ3 turned into a high-stakes one-lap shootout on softs. Norris produced a flawless effort to take control, with Antonelli splitting the McLarens in second. Piastri's late push secured third, demoting Leclerc and Verstappen. Franco Colapinto impressed in eighth for Alpine, sandwiching Red Bull's Isack Hadjar (ninth) and Pierre Gasly (10th).
Advanced to SQ3/Top 10
1. Lando Norris – McLaren – 1:27.869
2. Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes – 1:28.091 (+0.222s)
3. Oscar Piastri – McLaren – 1:28.108 (+0.239s)
4. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari – 1:28.239 (+0.370s)
5. Max Verstappen – Red Bull Racing – 1:28.461 (+0.592s)
6. George Russell – Mercedes – 1:28.493 (+0.624s)
7. Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari – 1:28.618 (+0.749s)
8. Franco Colapinto – Alpine – 1:29.320 (+1.451s)
9. Isack Hadjar – Red Bull Racing – 1:29.422 (+1.553s)
10. Pierre Gasly – Alpine – 1:29.474 (+1.605s)
Eliminated in SQ2
11. Gabriel Bortoleto – Audi – 1:29.994
12. Nico Hulkenberg – Audi – 1:30.019
13. Oliver Bearman – Haas – 1:30.116
14. Alex Albon – Williams – 1:30.216 (note: faced track limits investigation/deletion)
15. Carlos Sainz – Williams – 1:30.224
16. Arvid Lindblad – Racing Bulls – 1:30.573
Eliminated in SQ1
17. Liam Lawson – Racing Bulls – 1:31.043
18. Esteban Ocon – Haas – 1:31.245
19. Sergio Perez – Cadillac – 1:31.255
20. Valtteri Bottas – Cadillac – 1:31.826
21. Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin – 1:41.311 (lap deleted for track limits)
22. Lance Stroll – Aston Martin – No time set (crashed/spun early after lock-up at Turn 17)