The 2026 Miami Grand Prix weekend kicked off in spectacular fashion, with McLaren roaring back to the front of the grid during Saturday's Sprint Qualifying. Lando Norris delivered a stunning performance to snatch pole position, crediting the team's aggressive upgrade package for the sudden leap in pace.
"A perfect result for us. A nice way to reward the team," Norris said after the session. "We have a lot of new upgrades on the car. It's nice to feel some grip again and to reward the guys and the girls that have put a lot of work into this." The British driver's smile was as bright as the Miami sun as he acknowledged the hard work behind the scenes at the Woking factory.
Norris, who has always had a soft spot for the Miami circuit, added, "I've always loved Miami on and off the track. It's the beginning of the weekend, so still a long way to go but nice to tick things off by doing this." His confidence was evident, especially when discussing McLaren's battle with Mercedes. "The track is different. We know this track has always been good to us but knew what we were bringing was going to be a good step and it has. It's nice our estimations have proved correct and the team deserve that. Since the first lap I've felt comfortable and was like 'I've got a bit of rear grip'."
The top ten was a mix of familiar faces and rising stars. Kimi Antonelli put his Mercedes second, just 0.222 seconds behind Norris, while Oscar Piastri made it a double McLaren presence in third. Charles Leclerc's Ferrari slotted into fourth, with reigning champion Max Verstappen rounding out the top five for Red Bull Racing. George Russell and Lewis Hamilton followed for Mercedes and Ferrari respectively, while Franco Colapinto impressed for Alpine in eighth. Isack Hadjar and Pierre Gasly completed the top ten, both showing strong pace for their teams.
Further down the order, drivers like Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg faced a tougher session, but the story of the day was unmistakably McLaren's resurgence. For fans of the papaya-clad team, this was a welcome return to form, and for anyone tracking the latest in motorsport fashion, Norris's podium-ready performance was the perfect excuse to break out the team gear. With the sprint race looming, all eyes are on whether McLaren can convert this qualifying magic into race-day glory.