Lando Norris has claimed pole position for the Miami sprint race, signaling a strong challenge from McLaren against Mercedes' early-season dominance. The reigning sprint qualifying champion will lead Saturday’s 19-lap dash after edging out Mercedes’ championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 0.222 seconds. Norris’ teammate, Oscar Piastri, secured third place, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc starting fourth.
Mercedes had been unshakeable during the opening three Grands Prix of the year, clinching victories and one-two finishes consistently in both full and sprint qualifying sessions. However, following a five-week hiatus since Antonelli’s win in Japan—due to canceled races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia—their grip on pole position has finally loosened on the streets around Hard Rock Stadium.
While Leclerc appeared to hold an advantage throughout qualifying, Norris delivered a final, impressive lap on soft tires that surpassed Antonelli’s best effort. Meanwhile, George Russell struggled to find pace for Mercedes, starting sixth behind Max Verstappen in fifth.
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Several teams arrived in Miami with extensive upgrades, particularly Ferrari and McLaren, eager to close the gap to Mercedes, who made only minor adjustments to their car. Norris is currently 47 points adrift of Antonelli in the championship standings, having missed the Chinese Grand Prix due to a mechanical failure.
Miami is a special venue for Norris, who earned his first Grand Prix victory here in 2024. The 26-year-old expressed confidence and satisfaction with the weekend’s start: “Perfect way for me to start the weekend. I’ve always loved Miami, and this is a great result for us. There’s still a long way to go, but it’s nice to tick it off by doing this. The track has always been good to us, and we knew the upgrades we were bringing would hopefully help—and they have. Since the first lap today, I felt comfortable.”
Max Verstappen, a four-time world champion, showed signs of improvement with an upgraded Red Bull, qualifying in fifth place despite a challenging start to the season. Lewis Hamilton will begin Sunday’s race in seventh for Mercedes.
Weather may play a crucial role in the race, with heavy rain and thunderstorms forecasted. The FIA is evaluating possible adjustments to the race start time, consistent with Miami state laws regarding lightning at sporting events, to ensure safety.