Kimi Antonelli Takes Stunning Pole for 2026 F1 Miami Grand Prix Ahead of Verstappen, Leclerc

Miami, USA, May 3, 2026: Rising star Kimi Antonelli delivered a sensational performance to secure pole position for the 2026 FIA Formula One Miami Grand Prix, edging out reigning champion Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in a fiercely competitive qualifying session at the Miami International Autodrome.

The Mercedes driver clocked a blistering 1:27.798 in Q3, holding firm despite late pressure from Verstappen, who secured a front-row start just 0.166s behind. Leclerc followed in third, narrowly ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris, while Antonelli’s teammate George Russell completed the top five.

Antonelli Delivers Under Pressure in Q3

Antonelli showed strong pace throughout qualifying but truly capitalized in Q3, setting the benchmark early. Despite abandoning his final lap after a scrappy first sector, his earlier effort proved unbeatable.

Verstappen looked poised to snatch pole with a rapid middle sector on his final run but fell just short at the line. Leclerc, who briefly held provisional pole, could not improve on his last attempt.

Ferrari and Red Bull Challenge, McLaren Close Behind

Ferrari displayed competitive pace, particularly in Q2 where Lewis Hamilton briefly topped the timesheets. However, both Ferrari drivers were unable to extract more performance in the निर्णायक final session.

McLaren remained firmly in contention, with Norris securing fourth and Oscar Piastri finishing seventh after a tense Q1 escape on used tyres.

Drama-Filled Q1 Sees Big Names Eliminated

The opening session saw significant surprises, as multiple high-profile drivers failed to advance. Among those eliminated were:

Fernando Alonso (18th)
Sergio Pérez (21st)
Valtteri Bottas (20th)

A brake fire and traffic issues hindered Gabriel Bortoleto, who qualified last, while both Aston Martin cars exited early.

2026 FIA Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix – Qualifying
1 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 1:27.798 – –
2 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Red Bull Ford 1:27.964 0.166
3 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:28.143 0.345
4 Lando Norris McLaren/Mercedes 1:28.183 0.385
5 George Russell Mercedes 1:28.197 0.399
6 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 1:28.319 0.521
7 Oscar Piastri McLaren/Mercedes 1:28.500 0.702
8 Franco Colapinto Alpine/Mercedes 1:28.762 0.964
9 Isack Hadjar Red Bull/Red Bull Ford 1:28.789 0.991
10 Pierre Gasly Alpine/Mercedes 1:28.810 1.012
11 Nico Hülkenberg Audi 1:29.439 1.641
12 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls/Red Bull Ford 1:29.499 1.701
13 Oliver Bearman Haas/Ferrari 1:29.567 1.769
14 Carlos Sainz Williams/Mercedes 1:29.568 1.770
15 Esteban Ocon Haas/Ferrari 1:29.772 1.974
16 Alexander Albon Williams/Mercedes 1:29.946 2.148
17 Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls/Red Bull Ford 1:30.133 2.335
18 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin/Honda 1:31.098 3.300
19 Lance Stroll Aston Martin/Honda 1:31.164 3.366
20 Valtteri Bottas Cadillac/Ferrari 1:31.629 3.831
21 Sergio Pérez Cadillac/Ferrari 1:31.967 4.169
22 Gabriel Bortoleto Audi 1:33.737 5.939