Miami Sprint: Antonelli Holds Pole as Mercedes Grapples with Start Line Woes

Antonelli Dominance Continues in Qualifying

Mercedes teenager Kimi Antonelli maintained his qualifying edge over teammate George Russell at the Miami Grand Prix, according to espn_f1. The 19-year-old has now secured pole position for four consecutive qualifying sessions this season, a streak that Russell acknowledged without surprise. Describing the performance differential, Russell told espn_f1 that "it was no surprise to see the 19-year-old hold an advantage over one lap in Miami."

Sprint Race Start Issues Persist

Despite his qualifying prowess, Antonelli encountered difficulties when the lights went out for the Miami sprint race. According to Motorsport.com, Antonelli dropped from second to fourth position on lap one, continuing a troubling pattern for the championship leader. Motorsport.com reported that Antonelli has now lost 20 positions across the opening three grands prix and two sprints of the 2026 season when the race begins.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff absolved Antonelli of blame for the poor start, per Motorsport.com, indicating that factors beyond driver control may be contributing to the recurring issue.

Weather Threatens Sunday Schedule

The Miami Grand Prix faces potential timing disruptions ahead of Sunday's main race. According to Autosport and Motorsport.com, the FIA assessed whether to move the race start time following weather predictions indicating heavy rain and thunderstorms. The race was originally scheduled to begin at 4:00pm local time, with two meetings planned to address the situation. RacingNews365 reported that a new start time was ultimately confirmed following the decision to adjust the timetable.

Norris on Sprint Format Dynamics

McLaren driver Lando Norris reflected on the sprint qualifying format at Miami, telling Crash.net that the experience reminded him of "just like the old days," referencing four-way qualifying battles from previous seasons.