Sprint Qualifying at the 2026 Miami GP delivered a tightly fought contest across all three phases, with track evolution, timing, and tyre management shaping the outcome. Lando Norris set the tone in SQ1 by edging Charles Leclerc in a session disrupted by a brief yellow flag, before the battle intensified in SQ2 as Ferrari and McLaren traded the advantage and late improvements proved decisive in settling the top 10. With tyre life limited in SQ3, the fight for pole became a one-lap shootout, and Norris rose to the challenge with a commanding lap to secure top spot, while Kimi Antonelli impressed alongside him on the front row and Oscar Piastri and Leclerc completed a highly competitive leading group.
SQ1: Norris the man to beat as McLaren and Ferrari battle for position
Sprint Qualifying for the 2026 Miami GP began at 16:30 local time with an initially empty track, as drivers waited before heading out. After the first minute, Lando Norris led the queue out of the pit lane, although Valtteri Bottas became the first driver to start a timed lap. Soon after, the full field joined, with Gabriel Bortoleto the last to leave the garage.
Early on, Bottas set a benchmark of 1:32.317. However, Haas drivers quickly improved on that time, with Ollie Bearman posting a 1:30.843 to lead team-mate Esteban Ocon. Then, Pierre Gasly moved to the top with a 1:30.183. Meanwhile, Norris failed to complete a clean lap after Lance Stroll triggered a yellow flag with a lock-up, disrupting several drivers.
Despite the interruption, Charles Leclerc, who topped Free Practice, delivered a strong lap of 1:29.290 to take the lead. Kimi Antonelli followed closely in second, while Lewis Hamilton secured third. Max Verstappen slotted into fourth, with George Russell just behind Gasly.
As the session entered its final phase, Norris responded with a blistering 1:28.723 to reclaim P1. Oscar Piastri supported McLaren’s pace by moving into second. Shortly after, Leclerc improved but missed the top spot by just 0.010 seconds. Hamilton also advanced to fourth, while Antonelli and Russell positioned themselves ahead of Verstappen.
At the lower end, Stroll exited first after his earlier incident. Ocon then failed to improve and dropped out, followed by Bottas, Sergio Pérez, and Fernando Alonso. Finally, Liam Lawson fell to P16 as others improved, ending his Sprint Qualifying run.
Out in SQ1:
- Liam Lawson
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Valtteri Bottas
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll (No Time Set)
SQ2: Leclerc leads tight SQ2 as Russell finds footing
SQ2 at the 2026 Miami GP resumed with 16 drivers fighting for a place in the final phase, as Kimi Antonelli initially led George Russell onto the track. However, Russell quickly asserted himself, setting a 1:28.841 to edge ahead of his team-mate by just 0.0339 seconds. Although this effort kept Max Verstappen at bay in third with a 1:29.093, it soon came under threat from Ferrari.
With just over five minutes remaining, Charles Leclerc surged to the top with a 1:28.470, while Lewis Hamilton slotted into second with a 1:28.841. Shortly after, Oscar Piastri split the Ferrari pair by improving to second with a 1:28.506, demoting Hamilton to third. At the same time, Piastri voiced concerns about tyre performance, while Lando Norris struggled in seventh after bouncing over the kerbs and losing valuable time in a closely packed field.
Meanwhile, the battle at the lower end intensified. Arvid Lindblad and Ollie Bearman both lacked competitive lap times, leaving them in P16 and P15, respectively and under immediate pressure. Just ahead, Alex Albon narrowly led Williams team-mate Carlos Sainz by a mere 0.008 seconds in P13. In addition, Audi drivers Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg occupied P11 and P12, placing them just outside the crucial top 10.
As the session entered its final minute, no immediate improvements appeared. Nevertheless, several drivers began their final push laps as the clock expired, keeping the fight for SQ3 wide open. Although Bearman improved, his 1:30.116 proved insufficient, leaving him down in P13 and out of contention.
Out in SQ2:
- Gabriel Bortoleto
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Ollie Bearman
- Alex Albon
- Carlos Sainz
- Arvid Lindblad
SQ3: Norris snatches pole as Antonelli impresses in one-lap shootout in 2026 Miami GP Sprint Race Qualifying
The final eight minutes of Sprint Qualifying at the 2026 Miami GP featured the decisive fight for pole among the top 10. With tyre life limited, teams opted for a one-lap shootout, which kept all drivers in the garage as the clock initially ticked down. However, with just over four minutes remaining, George Russell led the field out, followed closely by Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris. Charles Leclerc emerged fourth, while Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and surprise contender Franco Colapinto headed out ahead of Isack Hadjar. Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri joined shortly after, leaving Kimi Antonelli as the final driver to take to the track.
With around two minutes left, the drivers began their only flying laps. Russell set the early benchmark with a 1:28.493. Next, Hamilton crossed the line but failed to challenge, his 1:29.618 leaving him behind his former Mercedes team-mate. Norris then delivered a standout lap of 1:27.869 to claim provisional pole. Leclerc followed but could only manage a 1:28.239, which kept him off the front row. Soon after, Piastri improved to second with a 1:28.108, only for Antonelli to edge ahead with a 1:28.091 and secure P2.
As the chequered flag fell, Norris held on to pole position, while Antonelli completed the front row. Piastri and Leclerc lined up on the second row, with Verstappen in fifth alongside Russell in sixth. Meanwhile, Hamilton dropped to seventh despite early promise. Colapinto impressed in eighth, ahead of Hadjar in ninth and Gasly in tenth.
Full results from Sprint Qualifying at the 2026 Miami GP here.
