Image: from New Straits Times X @NST_Online
By Open Chronicle with Agencies
Kimi Antonelli secured pole position for the 2026 Miami Grand Prix after a dramatic qualifying session that saw shifting momentum among the leading teams and major difficulties for Gabriel Bortoleto.
The young Mercedes driver delivered a standout performance in Q3, setting a lap time that proved untouchable and confirming his strong form in single-lap pace. Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing will start alongside him on the front row, with Charles Leclerc of Ferrari in third.
The session began with an intense Q1, where Verstappen initially set the pace. However, attention quickly turned to Bortoleto, whose qualifying was compromised from the outset. The Brazilian driver struggled with technical issues, reporting a lack of power and ultimately setting the slowest time.
His situation worsened when a brake issue triggered a small fire on the rear of his car, forcing him to stop on track and bringing out a yellow flag. The incident delayed the start of Q2 and highlighted ongoing reliability concerns for his team.
Several notable drivers were eliminated in Q1, including Sergio Perez, Valtteri Bottas, Fernando Alonso, and Lance Stroll.
In Q2, the competition tightened. Verstappen again topped the timesheets late in the session, with Antonelli and Leclerc close behind. Lando Norris, who had entered qualifying as a favorite after a strong Sprint performance, struggled to find pace and only narrowly advanced to Q3.
The final shootout saw Antonelli produce a commanding lap on his first attempt, putting significant pressure on his rivals. Despite improvements from Verstappen in the closing moments, he fell just short, while Leclerc and Norris were unable to improve enough to challenge for pole.
Behind the leading trio, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton secured the third row, followed by Oscar Piastri and others completing the top ten.
The result sets up an intriguing race, particularly as both Antonelli and Verstappen have experienced inconsistent starts under the current regulations, potentially opening the door for early overtakes.
For Bortoleto and his team, the session ended as a major disappointment. After issues already surfaced during the Sprint, the inability to properly compete in qualifying leaves him starting from the back of the grid, placing his race prospects in serious doubt.
The Miami Grand Prix is set to take place on Sunday, with anticipation building for what could be a highly competitive contest.
1) Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), 1’27.798
2) Max Verstappen (Red Bull/Red Bull Ford), 1’27.964
3) Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), 1’28.143
4) Lando Norris (McLaren/Mercedes), 1’28.183
5) George Russell (Mercedes), 1’28.197
6) Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), 1’28.319
7) Oscar Piastri (McLaren/Mercedes), 1’28.500
8) Franco Colapinto (Alpine/Mercedes), 1’28.762
9) Isack Hadjar (Red Bull/Red Bull Ford), 1’28.789
10) Pierre Gasly (Alpine/Mercedes), 1’28.810
11) Nico Hülkenberg (Audi), 1’29.439
12) Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls/Red Bull Ford), 1’29.499
13) Oliver Bearman (Haas/Ferrari), 1’29.567
14) Carlos Sainz (Williams/Mercedes), 1’29.568
15) Esteban Ocon (Haas/Ferrari), 1’29.772
16) Alexander Albon (Williams/Mercedes), 1’29.946
17) Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls/Red Bull Ford), 1’30.133
18) Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin/Honda), 1’31.098
19) Lance Stroll (Aston Martin/Honda), 1’31.164
20) Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac/Ferrari), 1’31.629
21) Sergio Pérez (Cadillac/Ferrari), 1’31.967
22) Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi), 1’33.737