Norris Celebrates Sprint Qualifying 'Reward' for McLaren
Lando Norris put McLaren on top for the first time this season by taking Sprint pole at the Miami Grand Prix, ending Mercedes'Â run of qualifying dominance.
The McLaren driver clocked a 1:27.869 lap in the final part of Sprint Qualifying, edging out championship leader Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) by just over two-tenths of a second. It marked the first time this year that a Mercedes driver has not started from the front of a qualifying session.
Norris admitted that the session was not straightforward, saying that his Q2 lap was "pretty woeful." The early lack of speed surely did not give him much confidence heading into the final run, but he ultimately got the job done.
The conditions did not make things easier. Track temperatures climbed past 50 degrees Celsius on Friday, making it difficult for the tyres.
Despite all that, Norris delivered. "I've always felt good around here, and it's always good to do it," he said about the track that brought him his first F1 win in 2024. "Good to start the weekend with a pole."
McLaren's Upgrades Came with Immediate Impact
After climbing out of the car, Norris was keen to credit his team. "Great, perfect result for us," he said.
"Nice way to reward the team. We've got a lot of new upgrades on the car, so it's nice to feel some grip again and nice to reward the guys and the girls that have put a lot of work into this.
"I've always loved Miami, both on and off the track," he said. "It's a good result for us. Of course, just the beginning of the weekend, still a long way to go, but nice to kick it off by doing this.
"Perfect way for me to start the weekend."
The Sprint race takes place on Saturday, followed by qualifying for the Grand Prix.
See also: full Lando Norris career stats archive on F1-Fansite.
Related: 2026 Sprint Qualifying Report & Results Miami F1 Sprint
