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Norris claims Miami sprint pole after McLaren upgrades

PUBLISHED May 2, 2026, 12:39 AM ET

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MIAMI — On Friday and Saturday qualifying sessions at Hard Rock Stadium, world champion Lando Norris drove McLaren's upgraded car to pole position for the Miami Grand Prix sprint race, edging Mercedes' championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 0.222 seconds; teammate Oscar Piastri qualified third ahead of the main Grand Prix scheduled for Sunday. The result, reported May 1–2, reflects performance gains from McLaren's upgrade package fitted during the recent five-week break, with Norris crediting the team; Mercedes remained tightly competitive with Antonelli close in time. Teams will refine race setups and tyre strategies overnight as they prepare to contest Sunday's main Grand Prix.

By Sarah Whitman | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

During the five-week F1 hiatus, teams developed and fitted upgrade packages.
Teams tested adjustments and FIA regulation changes during the break.
May 1–2: Qualifying at Miami saw Lando Norris set the fastest lap for sprint pole.
Norris beat Kimi Antonelli by 0.222 seconds; Oscar Piastri qualified third.
Teams prepare setups and tyre strategy ahead of Sunday's main Grand Prix.

News Intelligence

If you're a Formula 1 fan, this shake-up in the qualifying order could make for an exciting race on Sunday. McLaren's upgrades seem to be paying off, which might influence other teams' strategies. Keep an eye on how this impacts the main Grand Prix.

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Who Benefited

McLaren benefited directly as upgrades delivered qualifying performance gains, elevating Lando Norris to sprint pole and improving the team's competitive position and visibility ahead of the main race.

Who Impacted

Mercedes saw its early-season qualifying dominance interrupted when Kimi Antonelli was outqualified by Norris, preserving close championship standings but conceding top qualifying position for the sprint.

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