Lando Norris ended Mercedes’ qualifying dominance by securing McLaren’s first pole of the 2026 F1 season at the Miami International Autodrome on May 1, 2026. His impressive lap time of 1:27.869 marked a significant achievement for McLaren, especially following their recent upgrades.
Norris’s performance surprised many, as he became the first non-Mercedes driver to claim pole position this season. Kimi Antonelli followed closely in second place, just two-tenths behind, while Oscar Piastri secured third. Charles Leclerc, who had led earlier practice sessions, qualified fourth, and Max Verstappen rounded out the top five.
Following the qualifying session, Norris expressed his satisfaction with the team’s progress. He stated, “I feel very good. I’m very happy for the team,” highlighting the hard work that went into their recent upgrades. George Russell acknowledged McLaren’s leap in performance, remarking on how impressive their advancements have been when compared to Mercedes.
Despite setting faster times earlier in the weekend, Lewis Hamilton qualified seventh. He and Russell both noted that McLaren had consistently outperformed them throughout the day. The overall performance disparity raised questions about Mercedes’ strategy and development pace compared to other teams like Ferrari and Red Bull.
Key qualifying results:
- Lando Norris – Pole Position (1:27.869)
- Kimi Antonelli – Second Place (0.222 seconds behind)
- Oscar Piastri – Third Place (0.239 seconds behind)
- Charles Leclerc – Fourth Place (0.370 seconds behind)
- Max Verstappen – Fifth Place (0.592 seconds behind)
- George Russell – Sixth Place (0.624 seconds behind)
- Lewis Hamilton – Seventh Place (0.749 seconds behind)
- Franco Colapinto – Eighth Place
- Pierre Gasly – Tenth Place
The new qualifying format for F1 in 2026 includes a total of 22 cars, with six eliminated during SQ1 and SQ2 rounds. Notably, Lance Stroll did not set a time due to an early spin, while Fernando Alonso struggled with car issues that affected his performance.
The focus now shifts to the race day where expectations are high for both McLaren and its drivers. Observers anticipate an exciting showdown as teams adapt to new conditions and strategies at the Miami GP.
