Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli takes pole for 2026 Miami Grand Prix after season disruption

Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes has secured pole position for the 2026 Miami Grand Prix, ending a month-long hiatus in the Formula 1 calendar caused by the Iran War. The qualifying session, held on Saturday afternoon, saw the Mercedes driver claim the front row spot ahead of a late charge by Max Verstappen in the final round.

Antonelli, who won the two preceding races in China and Japan before the season was interrupted, leads his teammate George Russell by seven points in the championship standings. The points leader's success comes after the cancellation of both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix due to the ongoing conflict.

Verstappen achieved a surprising third-place result, overtaking both Charles Leclerc of Ferrari and Lando Norris of McLaren with a final lap push. This performance contrasts with Red Bull's broader struggles in the 2026 season so far, where the team has been described as a disappointment despite the world champion's strong qualifying pace.

George Russell is set to start fifth on the grid, ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Oscar Piastri. The grid order reflects the competitive nature of the field following the suspension of the calendar, with McLaren having secured the season opener earlier in the week via the Miami Grand Prix sprint race.

Prior to the sprint race, a minute's silence was observed to honour the late Alex Zanardi, a former F1 driver and Paralympic champion who died aged 59. The tribute acknowledged Zanardi's significant contribution to motorsport history before the focus shifted to the main event.

In the previous sprint event, Antonelli finished fourth on track but received a five-second time penalty for exceeding track limits, a sanction that reduced his championship lead over Russell at the time. Despite that earlier setback, the Mercedes driver has now re-established his dominance heading into the main race.