Winners and Losers from the 2026 Miami GP Qualifying

The Miami Grand Prix qualifying session delivered a dramatic shake-up, completely overturning the pecking order established just hours earlier in the sprint race. Kimi Antonelli secured a historic third consecutive pole for Mercedes, fending off a surprise challenge from a resurgent Max Verstappen, while sprint winners McLaren tumbled down the grid.

Why it matters:

Qualifying exposed the volatile and circuit-specific nature of the 2026 regulations, where minor setup changes and evolving track conditions can cause massive performance swings between sessions. For teams like McLaren and Red Bull, the results either confirmed worrying inconsistencies or signaled a potential turning point in their difficult seasons, setting the stage for a strategic and unpredictable grand prix.

The details:

• Mercedes' Mixed Bag: Kimi Antonelli was flawless, capturing a third straight pole and entering rarefied air alongside legends Senna and Schumacher. In stark contrast, teammate George Russell struggled all weekend, qualifying a distant fifth and citing a lack of rhythm on the low-grip surface.
• McLaren's Reality Check: After a dominant sprint 1-2, Oscar Piastri barely escaped Q1 and Lando Norris could only manage seventh. Team principal Andrea Stella pointed to wind changes, PU issues, and rivals simply optimizing their packages better for qualifying proper.
• Red Bull's Encouraging Step: Both Max Verstappen (P2) and Isack Hadjar (P9) showed markedly improved one-lap pace and, crucially, the ability to progress the car setup through the weekend—a key weakness earlier in the year.
• Alpine's Clear Advantage: The Mercedes-powered team solidified its position as the clear 'best of the rest'. Franco Colapinto (P8) was stellar, and the car held a several-tenths gap over the midfield, catching rivals like Racing Bulls and Haas off guard.
• Audi & Cadillac's Struggles: Audi's nightmare weekend continued with a gearbox change, a brake fire for Gabriel Bortoleto, and Nico Hulkenberg languishing in 11th. Cadillac also regressed sharply after a promising Friday, failing to challenge even Aston Martin.

What's next:

The fluctuating results make Sunday's grand prix highly unpredictable. McLaren must solve its one-lap woes overnight to convert sprint race pace into points, while Mercedes will hope for a clean Antonelli start and a Russell recovery. All eyes will be on whether Red Bull's qualifying form translates to race pace and if Alpine can defend its strong grid positions to score major points. With weather changes possible, strategy and adaptability will be paramount.