Miami GP Race Starts 3 Hours Early Due to Storms

The Miami Grand Prix race start has been moved up by three hours to 1pm local time on Sunday. This is because of a forecast for bad storms.
By Newsroom | Motorsport, Miami |

Antonelli Secures Third Straight Pole in Miami

Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes has claimed pole position for the Miami Grand Prix, marking his third consecutive top starting spot. Antonelli's best lap time of 1:27.798 edged out Max Verstappen of Red Bull, who secured second place on the front row. Charles Leclerc qualified third for Ferrari, with McLaren's Lando Norris in fourth.

Antonelli beats Verstappen to F1 Miami GP pole as storm threat brings race forward by three hours - 1

The FIA, F1, and the Miami promoter have collectively decided to advance the start of Sunday's Grand Prix by three hours, from 4pm to 1pm local time, due to a forecast of significant thunderstorms expected in the afternoon.

Antonelli beats Verstappen to F1 Miami GP pole as storm threat brings race forward by three hours - 2

Qualifying Recap and Grid

Antonelli's performance saw him consistently at the top of the timesheets throughout qualifying. While he did not improve on his final lap attempt, his earlier effort proved insurmountable. Verstappen's strong showing, placing him second, signals a resurgence for Red Bull following significant car upgrades.

Read More: Miami F1 Race Starts 3 Hours Early Due to Storms

Antonelli beats Verstappen to F1 Miami GP pole as storm threat brings race forward by three hours - 3

George Russell will start fifth for Mercedes, nearly four-tenths behind his teammate Antonelli. Lewis Hamilton qualified sixth, with McLaren's Oscar Piastri in seventh.

Antonelli beats Verstappen to F1 Miami GP pole as storm threat brings race forward by three hours - 4
PositionDriverTeamTime
1Kimi AntonelliMercedes1:27.798
2Max VerstappenRed Bull Racing1:27.964
3Charles LeclercFerrari1:28.143
4Lando NorrisMcLaren1:28.183
5George RussellMercedes1:28.197
6Lewis HamiltonFerrari1:28.319
7Oscar PiastriMcLaren1:28.500

Notable Incidents and Disqualifications

  • Gabriel Bortoleto was disqualified from the Miami Sprint race due to a technical infringement.

  • Lando Norris experienced a "scary snap" during his qualifying lap, causing him to abandon the attempt. He eventually qualified fourth.

Background

This pole position for Antonelli, 19, continues Mercedes' strong qualifying record this season, with Lando Norris's sprint pole on Friday being the only instance an outside driver has taken top spot. The Miami Grand Prix marks a resumption of the 2026 Formula 1 season after a five-week break, during which teams, including Red Bull and Ferrari, introduced substantial upgrades. Mercedes, however, is reportedly holding off on major developments until the next event in Canada.

The altered race start time reflects concerns over weather conditions, a factor that could influence race strategy. The early shift aims to avoid potential disruptions from the predicted heavy thunderstorms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why was the Miami Grand Prix race start time changed?
The race was moved up by three hours to start at 1pm local time on Sunday. This is because of a forecast for bad thunderstorms in the afternoon.
Q: Who got pole position for the Miami Grand Prix?
Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes got pole position with a lap time of 1:27.798. This is his third pole in a row.
Q: Who else is starting at the front of the Miami Grand Prix?
Max Verstappen will start second, Charles Leclerc is third, and Lando Norris qualified fourth. George Russell and Lewis Hamilton will start fifth and sixth.
Q: Were there any other important events in Miami F1 qualifying?
Gabriel Bortoleto was disqualified from the Sprint race for a technical problem. Lando Norris had a moment during qualifying but still managed to get fourth place on the grid.