Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy driving the (12) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team W17 on track during the Sprint ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 02, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Andy Hone/LAT Images for Mercedes)
Formula 1 Hot News

Formula 1 News: Antonelli nips Verstappen for 2026 Miami GP pole

Posted by AR1 staff

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli (pictured) turned a lap of 1m27.798s around the Miami International Autodrome to win pole position for the 2026 Miami GP Formula 1 race. It was Antonelli’s third straight F1 pole after winning pole in China and Japan.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Max Verstappen, carrying the Red Bull RB22 on his back, will start on the outside of the front row, 0.166s behind the young Italian. With rain forecast for Sunday, starting up front will be important.

Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (3) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB22 Red Bull Ford on track during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 01, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Sam Bloxham/LAT Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool //

Charles Leclerc was again the fastest Ferrari driver, ending up third, 0.345s behind Antonelli.

Lando Norris, who won the Sprint race earlier today, was 4th in his #1 McLaren,0.385s behind Antonelli.

Antonelli’s Mercedes teammate, George Russell rounded out the top-5, 0.399s behind Antonelli.

Lewis Hamilton, Oscar Piastri, Franco Colapinto, Isack Hadjar and Pierre Gasly rounded out the top-10.

You will have heard the drivers mention it, but the forecast is for rain tomorrow. No one has any real experience of these cars in the wet yet, bar a few laps at the Barcelona Shakedown in drizzle all the way back in February.

As such, tomorrow could be fraught, it could be chaotic and there could be a serious chance of points for some teams who don’t normally score.

Top-3 Quotes

Kimi Antonelli (#12 Mercedes)

It’s been an amazing day, to be on pole again. Was a difficult start of the day with the Sprint, where it didn’t go our day. Happy with the quali, a little bit overexcited on the last lap in Q3, but the first lap was good.

I was very stressed to be fair, I was waiting for everyone to finish their laps but it was good enough so I’m happy with that.

It would be nice to not lose any positions tomorrow..

Max Verstappen (#3 Red Bull-Ford)

For me it has been two things. For sure the car has not been great in the last races and I didn’t feel comfortable with the layout of the car.

The upgrades have made me feel comfortable, so I can push more and the upgrades are working. To be on the front row is way better than I expected heading into this weekend.

Let’s see what the weather does, but I am very happy with where we are – it is light at the end of the tunnel.

To be on the front row, coming from over a second behind in the previous race. Its really incredible.

Charles Leclerc (#16 Ferrari)

It was on the limit, but we were not fast enough. We brought a significant package that helped a bit but we need to improve. P3 is a good starting position so I am looking forward to tomorrow.

[Tomorrow] looks wet. I think it will be a wet race.

Top-3 in qualifying for the 2026 Miami GP Formula 1 race (L to R) Max Verstappen, Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc

2026 Miami GP Qualifying Results

Pos. No. Driver Nat. Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Behind Laps
1 12 Kimi Antonelli ITA Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team 1:28.653 1:28.289 1:27.798  +0.000s 17
2 3 Max Verstappen NED Oracle Red Bull Racing 1:29.099 1:28.116 1:27.964 +0.166 15
3 16 Charles Leclerc MON Scuderia Ferrari HP 1:28.938 1:28.315 1:28.143 +0.345 21
4 1 Lando Norris GBR McLaren Mastercard F1 Team 1:29.183 1:28.920 1:28.183 +0.385 20
5 63 George Russell GBR Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team 1:29.492 1:28.477 1:28.197 +0.399 18
6 44 Lewis Hamilton GBR Scuderia Ferrari HP 1:29.483 1:28.477 1:28.319 +0.521 21
7 81 Oscar Piastri AUS McLaren Mastercard F1 Team 1:29.920 1:28.332 1:28.500 +0.702 20
8 43 Franco Colapinto ARG BWT Alpine F1 Team 1:29.584 1:28.975 1:28.762 +0.964 19
9 6 Isack Hadjar FRA Oracle Red Bull Racing 1:29.324 1:28.941 1:28.789 +0.991 21
10 10 Pierre Gasly FRA BWT Alpine F1 Team 1:29.914 1:29.070 1:28.810 +1.012 20
11 27 Nico Hulkenberg GER Audi Revolut F1 Team 1:29.645 1:29.439  –  Q2 14
12 30 Liam Lawson NZL Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team 1:29.595 1:29.499  – Q2 14
13 87 Oliver Bearman GBR TGR Haas F1 Team 1:29.340 1:29.567  – Q2 12
14 55 Carlos Sainz ESP Atlassian Williams F1 Team 1:29.540 1:29.568  – Q2 15
15 31 Esteban Ocon FRA TGR Haas F1 Team 1:29.838 1:29.772  – Q2 15
16 23 Alexander Albon THA Atlassian Williams F1 Team 1:29.720 1:29.946  – Q2 15
17 41 Arvid Lindblad GBR Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team 1:30.133 –  –  Q1 9
18 14 Fernando Alonso ESP Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team 1:31.098  –  – Q1 8
19 18 Lance Stroll CAN Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team 1:31.164  –  – Q1 9
20 77 Valtteri Bottas FIN Cadillac F1 Team 1:31.629  –  – Q1 9
21 11 Sergio Perez MEX Cadillac F1 Team 1:31.967  –  – Q1 9
22 5 Gabriel Bortoleto BRA Audi Revolut F1 Team 1:33.737  –  – Q1 3