At the Miami GP on May 1, 2026, Lando Norris made history by ending Mercedes’ qualifying dominance, claiming McLaren’s first pole position of the season with a blistering time of 1:27.869.
Norris’s achievement came as a surprise to many observers, especially given that he became the first non-Mercedes driver to secure pole in this season. Kimi Antonelli followed closely behind, finishing just two-tenths off Norris, while Oscar Piastri rounded out the top three.
“I feel very good. I’m very happy for the team,” Norris expressed after his impressive run. He acknowledged the hard work that went into McLaren’s significant upgrades for this race. “It’s always a lot of expectations. A lot of work has gone into trying to bring these upgrades,” he added.
The qualifying session revealed some unexpected results. Charles Leclerc, who had led earlier practice sessions, qualified fourth, while Max Verstappen and George Russell slotted in fifth and sixth respectively. Even Lewis Hamilton struggled to find his rhythm, qualifying seventh despite earlier faster times.
George Russell noted the surprising leap in performance from McLaren and Ferrari: “Pretty surprising how big a jump McLaren and Ferrari made. That’s pretty damn impressive.” This reflects a notable shift in the competitive landscape of Formula 1 as teams like McLaren push forward.
As for Mercedes, they introduced fewer upgrades compared to their rivals. This strategy may have contributed to their struggle during qualifying. With Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly finishing eighth and tenth respectively, it’s clear that other teams are also making strides.
The new qualifying format for 2026 saw six cars eliminated in SQ1 and SQ2, with Lance Stroll failing to set a time due to an early spin and Fernando Alonso facing issues that slowed him down significantly.
Looking ahead, fans are eager to see how these developments will play out during the race itself. The atmosphere at Miami International Autodrome is charged with excitement as teams prepare for what could be an exhilarating Sprint Qualifying event.
