Lando Norris celebrated earning pole position for Saturday's sprint race with a clean qualifying lap on Friday, as lightning fears loom over the Formula One return in Miami. The McLaren driver edged out Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli by two-tenths of a second, with teammate Oscar Piastri taking third. This marks the first time this season that a Mercedes has not been on pole in either qualifying format.
Storms threaten Sunday's race
Sunday's main event could be affected by potential lightning storms, with local forecasters predicting an 85% chance of heavy thunderstorms in the afternoon. The FIA is closely monitoring the situation and may bring the race start time forward. Protocol dictates that events must be stopped if lightning strikes within an eight-mile radius, and a decision will be made on Saturday.
Upgrades and rule changes
Formula One returns after a five-week break following the cancellation of the Saudi Arabian and Bahrain GPs due to the war in the Middle East. Teams have used the time to work on upgrades, with many deploying new parts in Miami. Ferrari and McLaren have brought substantial developments hoping to close the gap to Mercedes, who have been dominant in the opening races. Mercedes have not brought a major upgrade package but remain unbeaten, with Antonelli leading teammate George Russell by nine points in the championship.
Lando Norris expressed optimism about McLaren's upgrades, stating, "This track has always been good to us but we knew that what we were bringing into it would be a good step." Charles Leclerc qualified fourth for Ferrari, Max Verstappen fifth, and Lewis Hamilton seventh. Red Bull also hopes their upgrades will solve issues that have plagued their car, with Verstappen currently ninth in the championship.
Drivers are also managing rule adjustments introduced this round to address unhappiness over energy management dominating racing. An extended first practice session on Friday showed no obvious discontent, but the acid test of qualifying, sprint race, and main event remains. If rain falls, it will be the first time these new cars have run competitively in wet conditions, adding further challenge to a demanding track.
