MIAMI : World champion Lando Norris claimed pole position for the sprint race at the Miami Grand Prix, edging out Kimi Antonelli in a tightly contested qualifying session.
The McLaren driver clocked a best lap of 1:27.869 around the Hard Rock Stadium circuit, finishing 0.222 seconds ahead of the Mercedes championship leader. It marked the first time this season that Mercedes have been beaten to any pole.
Oscar Piastri will start third, completing a strong showing for McLaren, while Charles Leclerc lines up alongside him on the second row.
“A perfect result for us… a nice way to reward the team,” Norris said, crediting recent upgrades for improved grip and performance.
McLaren, winners of the last two Miami Grands Prix, appear to have taken a significant step forward with their updated package, challenging Mercedes’ early-season dominance.
Further back, four-time world champion Max Verstappen qualified fifth for the 100km sprint, while George Russell placed sixth ahead of Lewis Hamilton.
The sprint race on Saturday offers points to the top finishers, with the main Grand Prix—the fourth round of the season—set for Sunday.
