Kimi Antonelli secured pole position for the 2026 Miami Grand Prix, marking his third consecutive pole of the season with Mercedes. The result represents a strong response to his earlier sprint struggles and confirms his growing dominance over a single lap.
Antonelli delivered a decisive final run in Q3, producing a clean and optimised lap to beat Max Verstappen by around one and a half tenths. Charles Leclerc placed third for Ferrari, while Lando Norris secured fourth for McLaren, highlighting a four-team fight at the front.
From a technical standpoint, Mercedes’ advantage was rooted in its ability to maximise tyre performance within a narrow operating window, particularly during the preparation and execution phases of the lap. The Miami circuit demands strong braking stability and efficient direction changes, both of which Antonelli managed effectively without compromising grip.
"The car felt very strong over one lap, especially in maximising the technical sections with consistent grip."
A notable gap within the team saw George Russell fall significantly short of Antonelli’s pace, indicating that the car remains highly sensitive to setup configuration and driver adaptation.
Lewis Hamilton qualified sixth ahead of Oscar Piastri, while Franco Colapinto delivered a strong performance to secure a place inside the top eight. This spread underlines the tightening competitive margins across the field.
Elsewhere, Nico Hulkenberg returned to action after missing the sprint due to technical issues, while team-mate Gabriel Bortoleto encountered another setback with a brake fire in Q1 following his earlier disqualification.
With this pole position, Antonelli strengthens his position in the championship fight and gives Mercedes a strategic advantage heading into the race. Attention now turns to the race start and execution, where pressure from Verstappen, Ferrari, and McLaren will play a decisive role in determining the outcome in Miami.
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