Lando Norris delivered a statement lap to secure Sprint pole at the Miami Grand Prix, beating Kimi Antonelli and Oscar Piastri as McLaren finally broke Mercedes’ one lap grip on the 2026 Formula 1 season.
The first Sprint Qualifying session of the Miami weekend had been building towards a showdown between several of the leading teams after a fascinating opening practice session, but when the pressure arrived in SQ3 it was Norris who found the lap that mattered.
His 1m 27.869s was good enough to put the reigning world champion on top by 0.222s, with Antonelli leaving it late but still grabbing second by just 0.0172s from teammate Piastri. That was enough to give McLaren its first pole of any kind this season, and it came at a circuit where the team has increasingly looked comfortable in recent years.
For Mercedes, the outcome was more mixed. Antonelli again showed the speed that has made him one of the stars of the early campaign, but George Russell could only manage further back after a session in which the Silver Arrows no longer looked untouchable over one lap.
Lando Norris takes control in SQ3
The final phase began with the feeling that it would be a one lap shootout. The conditions remained punishingly hot, with track temperatures still hovering around 52 degrees, and there was little appetite for anyone to waste tyre life or risk a messy second run. That left execution everything.
Russell was first out and briefly set the target with a 1m 28.493s, while Lewis Hamilton slotted in 0.125s behind. But as the final runners completed their laps, the order shifted dramatically.
More from the Azerbaijan GP
Catch up with Total Motorsport’s latest Azerbaijan GP coverage, including George Russell’s dramatic Baku victory, the full race classification, the fastest lap result, and the Driver of the Day from the 2026 race.
Norris had looked sharp throughout the day, and when it counted he produced the cleanest lap of all. He jumped to the top with a commanding effort that neither Leclerc nor Piastri could match. Piastri came closest among the early finishers, moving into second but still finishing two tenths adrift of his teammate.
That left all eyes on Antonelli, who had been sent out last and was the final driver to complete his run. The Italian had enough speed to split the two McLaren cars, but not enough to deny Norris.
The top four ultimately read Norris, Antonelli, Piastri and Leclerc, with Ferrari unable to convert its earlier FP1 promise into pole position.
Ferrari and Red Bull stay in the fight
If McLaren were the big winners, Ferrari and Red Bull still left Sprint Qualifying with reason for encouragement.
Leclerc had looked the man to beat earlier in the day after topping FP1, and he again showed strong pace in SQ2 when he surged to the top by nearly half a second over Russell. Hamilton backed that up by going second in the segment, underlining the progress Ferrari have made with their major Miami upgrade package.
But when the soft tyres came out in SQ3, the final step was missing. Leclerc could not live with Norris’ benchmark and had to settle for fourth, while Hamilton dropped away from the front row battle after briefly looking competitive.
Verstappen, meanwhile, ended the session in the thick of the lead fight without ever truly looking like the favourite for pole. Given how much Red Bull struggled in China and Japan, that alone marks progress. The updated RB22 appears more stable and more competitive, even if it is still lacking the final bite needed to beat McLaren and Mercedes.
Midfield surprises as Alpine impress again
Behind the headline fight, the midfield produced a few notable twists.
Alpine continued its strong start to the weekend by getting both cars into the top 10, further strengthening the impression that the team has established itself at the front of the midfield battle. Audi also threatened to join that fight, but both of its drivers ultimately missed out in SQ2.
There were disappointments elsewhere. Haas and Racing Bulls, both of whom have shown solid form at points this year, each lost cars earlier than expected. Williams got both drivers into SQ2, which at least pointed to modest progress, but neither Alex Albon nor Carlos Sainz could make the final cut.
SQ1 also brought trouble for some bigger names. Sergio Perez, Valtteri Bottas, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll all fell at the first hurdle, with Stroll’s moment at Turn 17 helping to trigger yellow flags that complicated the segment for several drivers behind.
By the time the chequered flag fell in SQ3, though, the spotlight had narrowed back to the front. Norris had been quick from the start of the day, and when Sprint pole was on the line, he delivered exactly the sort of lap a world champion is expected to find.
For the first time this season, Mercedes do not hold the one lap advantage. In Miami, that honour belongs to McLaren.
