Qualifying for Round 4 of the 2026 F1 season has been completed at the Miami GP, view the full report on the session here.
McLaren went into the session as favourites. Lando Norris converted Sprint pole into a win as the team bagged a 1-2. Charles Leclerc was 3rd. Kimi Antonelli’s penalty dropped him from P4 to P6 as Mercedes struggled for speed in the 19-lap contest.
Q1
Following his DSQ in the F1 Sprint, Gabriel Bortoleto looked like he was missing qualifying. That was until he appeared for one lap right at the end.
A 1:32.698 from Valtteri Bottas in the Cadillac was the first time, before Sergio Pérez beat that by half a second.
Four-time World Champion Max Verstappen logged a 1:29.099 to lead the way six minutes in, 0.084s ahead of Lando Norris. Leclerc (0.3), Hamilton (0.4) and Hadjar (0.8) completed the top 5. Following a purple first sector, Kimi Antonelli went into 2nd, 0.059s away from the Dutchman. Piastri and Russell could only manage 7th and 8th.
Down at turn 11, Alex Albon had a solid lock-up and had to abort his lap.
With five minutes left, Lindblad, Alonso, Stroll, Pérez, Bottas and Bortoleto was the bottom six. Piastri and Russell dropped to 11th and 12th as Bearman, Hülkenberg, Lawson and Colapinto jumped them.
While the Aussie did not improve, the driver of car #63 vaulted up to P7. Kimi Antonelli smashed in a 1:28.663 to go 0.446s clear at the top. Charles Leclerc would put himself between them at the end, 0.285s behind the Italian.
The big stars of Q1 were Bearman and Sainz as they placed themselves in P6 and P9. Franco Colapinto outpaced Pierre Gasly once more over a single lap for 10th.
Despite a small improvement on his next attempt, Oscar Piastri only just made it to Q2 in P15. He was 0.2s clear of Arvid Lindblad.
Joining the Brit in the knockout zone were Alonso, Stroll, Bottas, Pérez and Bortoleto. The Brazilian was five seconds off on his lap; he then had a rear brake fire returning to the pits to top off a miserable Saturday afternoon.
Q2
Max Verstappen logged a 1:28.931 early doors in Q2, 0.010s in front of Isack Hadjar. Then the Ferraris appeared, with Lewis Hamilton doing a 1:28.477, beating Leclerc by 0.065s.
At turn 5, Lando Norris had a big snap of oversteer and was forced to abort his lap.
Out front, a 1:28.352 from Kimi Antonelli put him 0.125s of Lewis Hamilton, with George Russell matching the lap time of his fellow Brit. Leclerc, Piastri, Verstappen, Hadjar, Colapinto, Gasly and Lawson completed the top 10 after run 1 for everyone in Q2 at the 2026 Miami GP Qualifying.
On a new set of tyres, Lando Norris could only go P9, almost 0.7s off the championship leader.
Having improved to a 1:28.289, Kimi Antonelli saw Max Verstappen beat it by 0.173s to go fastest in Q2. Leclerc, Piastri, Hamilton, Russell, a struggling Norris and Hadjar rounded out the top four teams. Colapinto and Gasly delivered once more, putting almost half a second and 0.4s into the other midfield cars behind them.
Hülkenberg, Lawson, Bearman, Sainz, Ocon and Albon exited at this stage.
Q3
Oscar Piastri went first and did a 1:28.687, which was not a good lap as he quickly fell to P7.
Purple Sectors 1 and 3 from Kimi Antonelli saw the Italian smash in a 1:27.798, putting him 0.345 clear of Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque, Verstappen, Norris and Russell were covered by 0.054s after run 1. Hamilton, Piastri, Colpainto, Hadjar and Gasly rounded out the order ahead of the final runs.
As everyone struggled to improve, Max Verstappen put in a great last lap to go P2, finishing up 0.166s off polsitter Kimi Antonelli. Hamilton, Piastri and Gasly improved their times but did not gain any spots.
The championship leader locked up in turn 1 and had to abort his lap. Nonetheless, he retained P1.
