Lando Norris secured sprint qualifying pole in Miami as McLaren challenged Mercedes' early-season supremacy. The reigning champion will start Saturday's 19-lap dash from the front after outpacing Mercedes' championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 0.222 seconds. Oscar Piastri qualified third in the second McLaren, ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in fourth.
Mercedes' Dominance Broken
Mercedes had dominated the first three grands prix of the season, winning every race and claiming one-two finishes in all full and sprint qualifying sessions. However, after a five-week break following Antonelli's victory at the Japanese Grand Prix on March 29—due to the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races—Mercedes found their grip loosened on the streets around Hard Rock Stadium.
Leclerc appeared to have the edge throughout qualifying, but Norris delivered on the final soft-tyre run, and Antonelli's impressive lap was not enough to beat him. Mercedes' George Russell struggled for pace and will start sixth, behind Max Verstappen in fifth.
Upgrades and Standings
Teams across the grid brought extensive upgrades to Miami, with Ferrari and McLaren making significant changes to close the gap to Mercedes, who only made minor tweaks. Norris trails Antonelli by 47 points in the championship standings. Four-time champion Verstappen, who had not qualified higher than eighth this season and sits ninth in the standings, showed improvement with his upgraded Red Bull car. Lewis Hamilton managed only seventh for Ferrari.
Weather Concerns
Sunday's race faces weather concerns, with forecasts of heavy rain and thunderstorms that may affect the running. The FIA is considering options in line with Miami state law regarding lightning near sporting events, which could include changes to the start time of the 57-lap race.
