Max Verstappen, Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc after grand prix qualifying at the 2026 Miami GP. Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
May 2, 2026Updated 6:27 pm EDT
It was an impressive turnaround for Kimi Antonelli to claim a third successive pole and see off Max Verstappen’s resurgent Red Bull.
The championship leader had put in a scruffy sprint performance in the weekend’s first race, won by McLaren’s Lando Norris.
Verstappen looked a threat from the first laps in Q1, but on the final lap of Q3 he fell short by 0.166 seconds. The Dutchman was nevertheless boosted by Red Bull’s gains with its new aerodynamic pieces and its work to better use its engine systems.
Verstappen now feels he can really lean on the RB22 over qualifying laps in a way he just couldn’t on the other side of F1’s recent, unexpected spring break.
Charles Leclerc was third for Ferrari, while Norris was only fourth as McLaren struggled with both its Mercedes engine and a significant change in both wind direction and strength. The latter factor can really change car handling for drivers give the sensitive nature of the aerodynamic chassis parts.
George Russell was fifth in the other Mercedes in a blow to his world title hopes, even at this early stage of the season. Antonelli was quicker in almost all corners, suggesting Russell couldn’t cope as well with the tires sliding in the hot Florida conditions.
Results:
Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Max Verstappen, Red Bull
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Lando Norris, McLaren
George Russell, Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Isack Hadjar, Red Bull
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Nico Hülkenberg, Audi
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Ollie Bearman, Haas
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Esteban Ocon, Haas
Alex Albon, Williams
Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac
Sergio Pérez, Cadillac
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi
May 2, 2026
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