McLaren’s Norris Seizes Miami Sprint Pole as Upgrades Reshape F1 Order

Key facts

• Lando Norris (McLaren) took pole for the Miami sprint race, ahead of Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) and Oscar Piastri (McLaren).
• Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) led free practice with a lap of 1:29.310, followed by Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and Piastri.
• Verstappen stated Red Bull’s Miami updates have ‘almost halved’ the gap to the frontrunners.
• George Russell expressed surprise at the performance jump of McLaren and Ferrari in Miami.
• The sprint race and grand prix qualifying are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday respectively at Miami International Autodrome.
• Franco Colapinto (Alpine) will start the sprint from eighth, while Alex Albon (Williams) drops to 19th after sprint qualifying.
• Stefano Domenicali said F1 is ‘far from finished’ with US expansion, calling it the ‘beginning of our journey’.

Norris Leads McLaren Resurgence in Miami Sprint Qualifying

Lando Norris delivered a statement performance for McLaren, claiming pole position for Saturday’s sprint race at the Miami Grand Prix. The Briton outpaced Mercedes’ championship leader Kimi Antonelli, with teammate Oscar Piastri securing third. The result marks a significant upturn for McLaren, which has introduced a raft of technical upgrades for the Miami round. Norris described the pole as a ‘nice way to reward’ the team’s efforts, underscoring the renewed competitiveness of the papaya-coloured cars. The session, held under the Florida sun, saw the top three separated by less than two-tenths of a second, hinting at a tightly contested sprint.

Red Bull’s Verstappen Sees Progress but Demands More

Max Verstappen, who qualified fourth, acknowledged that Red Bull’s latest updates have ‘almost halved’ the gap to the frontrunners. The reigning champion, however, remained cautious, stating the team is ‘still not where I want it to be.’ His comments reflect a team under pressure after a five-week break, as rivals have closed the performance deficit. Verstappen’s lap in free practice placed him second behind Leclerc, suggesting the updates are working. Yet the Dutchman’s qualifying result shows that Red Bull still trails McLaren and Mercedes on single-lap pace at this circuit.

Ferrari and Mercedes React to Shifting Competitive Landscape

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc topped the sole practice session with a 1:29.310, but could only manage fourth in sprint qualifying. George Russell, who will start sixth, admitted he was surprised by the performance jump of both McLaren and Ferrari in Miami. ‘They have made a big step,’ Russell said, pointing to the intense development race that has defined the early season. Mercedes’ Antonelli, despite losing pole to Norris, remains the championship leader and will start second. The young Italian’s consistency has been a hallmark of his campaign, but the Miami weekend presents a new test as McLaren’s upgrades threaten Mercedes’ dominance.

Sprint Grid Set After Dramatic Qualifying Session

The provisional sprint grid sees Norris on pole, followed by Antonelli, Piastri, Leclerc, Verstappen, Russell, and Franco Colapinto of Alpine in eighth. Further back, Alex Albon’s difficult weekend continued as he dropped to 19th after sprint qualifying. The Williams driver had earlier struggled with car balance, a recurring theme for the team. Notable absentees from the top ten include Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg, who will start 11th and 12th respectively. Haas’s Oliver Bearman lines up 13th, while Albon languishes at the rear. The sprint race, set for Saturday, will offer a first glimpse of how the upgraded cars perform over a race distance.

F1’s US Expansion Continues as Domenicali Eyes Growth

Beyond the on-track action, Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali reiterated the sport’s commitment to the American market, calling the current push the ‘beginning of our journey.’ The Miami Grand Prix, now in its fifth year, has become a fixture on the calendar, and Domenicali hinted at further races in the United States. The comments came as Cadillac unveiled a limited-edition CT5-V Blackwing F1 Collector Series, underscoring the deepening ties between F1 and American automotive culture. Meanwhile, a bizarre off-track story emerged: former F1 driver Adrian Sutil’s $22 million Koenigsegg hypercar has gone missing amid an alleged blackmail case. The incident, unrelated to the racing, added a layer of intrigue to the Miami paddock.

Sprint Race and Grand Prix Qualifying Await

Saturday’s schedule features the sprint race in the morning, followed by qualifying for Sunday’s grand prix. The sprint, a 100-kilometre dash, will award points to the top eight finishers and set the grid for the main event. With McLaren’s upgrades proving effective, the team will aim to convert pole into victory, while Mercedes and Red Bull seek to counter. Weather forecasts suggest clear skies, eliminating the variable of rain. The Miami International Autodrome, a street circuit winding around the Hard Rock Stadium, demands precision over power, favouring cars with strong traction and braking stability. Sunday’s grand prix remains the ultimate prize, but the sprint will reveal the true pecking order.

McLaren’s Culture Shift Underpins On-Track Gains

McLaren CEO Zak Brown reflected on the team’s transformation, stating that when he joined, he ‘felt we were Darth Vader’ — a reference to the team’s once-toxic culture. Under his leadership, McLaren has rebuilt its identity, culminating in a return to front-running form. The Miami upgrades are the latest evidence of that revival. Brown also admitted that missing out on signing Fernando Alonso for the 2025 Indianapolis 500 was his ‘worst experience,’ highlighting the competitive pressures beyond F1. For now, however, McLaren’s focus is squarely on Miami, where Norris and Piastri have given the team its best chance of a win this season.

The bottom line

• McLaren’s Lando Norris took sprint pole in Miami, signalling the team’s upgrades have closed the gap to Mercedes.
• Red Bull’s Max Verstappen said updates ‘almost halved’ the deficit but admitted the car is still not where he wants it.
• Charles Leclerc led practice for Ferrari but could only qualify fourth, highlighting the tight competition.
• George Russell was surprised by the performance jump of McLaren and Ferrari, indicating a shifting competitive order.
• F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali confirmed the sport’s US expansion is only beginning, with more races likely.
• The sprint race and grand prix qualifying will determine the grid for Sunday’s main event, with McLaren aiming for victory.