Kimi Antonelli and Mercedes AMG F1 at the Miami GP

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli secured pole position for the Miami Grand Prix on May 2, 2026, recording a fastest lap of 1m 27.798s during the Q3 segment of qualifying at the Miami International Autodrome.

The result marks the third consecutive pole position of the season for the 19-year-old Italian, who currently leads the Formula One world championship. Antonelli’s performance comes as a recovery for the Mercedes team following a difficult showing in the Saturday sprint race earlier that day.

Qualifying Results and Grid Order

Antonelli topped the timing sheets, beating Max Verstappen, who qualified in second place. Verstappen finished 0.166 seconds behind the championship leader.

Mercedes’ George Russell qualified in fifth position, trailing Antonelli by 0.399 seconds. The qualifying session reinforced Mercedes’ strong form in full qualifying events this season, with the team maintaining a dominant streak in P1 slots, interrupted only by Lando Norris’ sprint pole on Friday.

Championship Context and Season Form

At 19 years old, Antonelli has become the youngest driver to lead the F1 world championship. His run of form includes three poles in the first four grands prix of the 2026 season.

Despite the qualifying success, Antonelli has acknowledged challenges regarding the team’s performance. In a statement on April 30, 2026, the driver discussed the need to address a fundamental start issue as the season progressed and teams introduced new upgrades and regulation changes.

The Miami Grand Prix serves as a critical juncture in the 2026 season, as rivals seek to close the gap on the championship leader through technical developments and strategic adjustments.