Kimi Antonelli like Senna and Schumacher: historic pole in Miami, Leclerc is 3rd
Andrea Kimi Antonelli more and more in Formula 1 history. The Bolognese of Mercedes also takes pole position in the Miami Grand Prix, the third of his career and the third consecutive. A figure that puts him on par with some of the most legendary champions of all time: before him, only Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher had managed to take the first grid position three times in a row after their very first exploits. The Emilian star managed to get ahead of none other than Max Verstappen, competitive again, with Charles Leclerc third. Sixth was the other Ferrari, that of Lewis Hamilton, preceded by Lando Norris and the disappointing George Russell. Only seventh was Oscar Piastri.
A result that comes after a Saturday afternoon that was anything but easy for Antonelli. In the sprint race held earlier in the day, the World Championship leader had gotten off to a bad start and had also been penalized for violating track limits several times, slipping from fourth to sixth overall. Triumphing had been Lando Norris ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri, with Charles Leclerc on the third step of the podium. Mercedes, and in particular Antonelli, therefore needed to redeem themselves in qualifying for the long race: mission accomplished, and in style.
The Miami weekend had, moreover, begun with McLaren in great style. In Friday’s sprint qualifying, Norris had dominated by setting the fastest time in the decisive SQ3, with Antonelli managing to break the Papaya duopoly only in extremis, placing second and knocking Oscar Piastri off the front row by just 17 thousandths. A sign that the fight for the pole in the main race was shaping up to be anything but a foregone conclusion.
Qualifying, on the other hand, delivered an Antonelli in a state of grace, able to put everyone in line and sign a time – 1’27″798 – that left Verstappen at 166 thousandths and Leclerc at almost four tenths. Particularly significant was the gap to teammate Russell, fifth at almost exactly four tenths from his young teammate: a sign that, within Mercedes, the internal rivalry is increasingly heated. It is no coincidence that in recent weeks former driver David Coulthard had already warned, “The friendship is over, George now knows that there is a real threat to the world title.”
In Ferrari’s house, the Miami weekend was expected to be an important test after the long break in the calendar. Team principal Frédéric Vasseur had brought several aerodynamic upgrades to Florida on the SF-26, including the much-discussed rear wing dubbed the “Macarena” for its characteristic double movement. Despite the new features, the qualifying result still tells of a significant gap from the top: Leclerc, third at over three tenths from the poleman, is the best of the Cavallino, with Hamilton only sixth at over half a second from Antonelli.
Miami GP 2026, the starting grid:
1. Antonelli (Mercedes) 1’27″798
2. Verstappen (Red Bull) 1’27″964
3. Leclerc (Ferrari) 1’28″143
4. Norris (McLaren) 1’28″183
5. Russell (Mercedes) 1’28″197
6. Hamilton (Ferrari) 1’28″319
7. Piastri (McLaren) 1’28″500
8. Colapinto (Alpine) 1’28″762
9. Hadjar (Red Bull) 1’28″789
10. Gasly (Alpine) 1’28″810
11. Hülkenberg (Audi) 1’29″439
12. Lawson (Racing Bulls) 1’29″499
13. Bearman (Haas) 1’29″567
14. Sainz (Williams) 1’29″568
15. Ocon (Haas) 1’29″772
16. Albon (Williams) 1’29″946
17. Lindblad (Racing Bulls) 1’30″133
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18. Alonso (Aston Martin) 1’31″098
19. Stroll (Aston Martin) 1’31″164
20. Bottas (Cadillac) 1’31″629
21. Perez (Cadillac) 1’31″967
22. Bortoleto (Audi) 1’33″737
