Mercedes and Kimi Antonelli are still the team to beat after Formula 1’s month-long hiatus.
The points leader scored the pole Saturday afternoon for Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix ahead of a late charge by Max Verstappen. Antonelli won the second and third races of the season in China and Japan ahead of the cancellation of both the Bahrain Grand Prix and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix because of the Iran War.
It’s the third straight pole position for Antonelli after he started first in each of those races in Asia and has a seven-point lead on teammate George Russell in the standings.
Verstappen’s qualifying pace was surprising as Red Bull has been a disappointment so far in 2026. His late lap in the final round of qualifying pushed him ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and McLaren’s Lando Norris. Russell will start fifth, ahead of Leclerc’s teammate Lewis Hamilton and Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri.