In a remarkable twist at the 2026 F1 Miami GP, Lando Norris has shattered Mercedes’ qualifying dominance by claiming pole position with a blistering time of 1:27.869 on May 1, 2026. This marks McLaren’s first pole of the season, a significant achievement that underscores the team’s impressive upgrades ahead of this race.
Until now, Mercedes had maintained a stranglehold on qualifying sessions throughout the early part of the season. However, Norris’s performance not only highlights his skill but also points to a noticeable shift in the competitive landscape of Formula 1. Kimi Antonelli followed closely behind, securing second place just two tenths off Norris’s time, while Oscar Piastri rounded out the top three.
Key Qualifying Results:
- Lando Norris – Pole Position: 1:27.869
- Kimi Antonelli – Second: +0.222 seconds
- Oscar Piastri – Third: +0.239 seconds
- Charles Leclerc – Fourth: +0.370 seconds
- Max Verstappen – Fifth: +0.592 seconds
- George Russell – Sixth: +0.624 seconds
- Lewis Hamilton – Seventh: +0.749 seconds
Norris expressed his excitement after the session, stating, “I feel very good. I’m very happy for the team.” He acknowledged the hard work that went into bringing their latest upgrades to fruition and remarked on how surprising it was to see such a significant performance leap from McLaren and Ferrari compared to their rivals.
George Russell also recognized this shift, commenting, “Pretty surprising how big a jump McLaren and Ferrari made. That’s pretty damn impressive.” His remarks reflect the growing competitiveness among teams as they adapt to new regulations and technologies in F1.
The qualifying format for this season has seen six cars eliminated in both SQ1 and SQ2 stages, leading to intense competition among drivers. With Lance Stroll failing to set a time due to an early spin and Fernando Alonso struggling with car issues that left him significantly slower, this session was fraught with drama.
The upcoming race promises to be thrilling as observers anticipate how these results will influence race strategies and team dynamics going forward. With McLaren’s upgrades proving effective and Mercedes facing increased pressure, the landscape of Formula 1 continues to evolve.