21:54
Piastri now splits the Ferraris in second, 0.036s behind Leclerc. That McLaren is looking pretty strong this afternoon - those updates are very clearly working.
Lando Norris, McLaren Racing, 2026 Miami F1
© XPB Images
F1 Miami reaction LIVE: Norris snatches pole in tense sprint qualifying
Live coverage of Friday at the F1 Miami Grand Prix
KEY MOMENTS
- Norris takes sprint pole for the Miami Grand Prix
- Leclerc leads SQ2
- Norris leads SQ1
- Aston, Cadillac, Audi, Williams, Racing Bulls, Haas fail to make SQ3
The 2026 Formula 1 season resumes this weekend, as the series makes its first of three visits to the United States of America, beginning with the Miami Grand Prix.
A recent addition to the calendar, the circuit around the Miami Dolphins' NFL stadium marks the fourth round of the 2026 season and the first race in five weeks.
The war in Iran forced F1 to cancel the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix, meaning no racing took place in April. However, this offered the 11 teams plenty of time to work on car development.
More significantly, this weekend's Miami Grand Prix will see the debut of new engine regulations aimed at improving the qualifying spectacle, as well as safety, following the scary shunt for Ollie Bearman at the Japanese Grand Prix.
As a result, FP1 on Friday has been extended to 90 minutes to allow the teams extra time to understand the new energy deployment regulations.
But that will represent the only practice for the weekend, with sprint qualifying following later on Friday, with the sprint itself on Saturday morning and then qualifying for the main race on Sunday.
Mercedes' dominant start to the new campaign sees it come to Miami with a target on its back, as its rivals look to close the gap to the championship leader.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli also leads the drivers' standings, following back-to-back wins in China and Japan, opening up an intriguing intra-team dynamic between himself and George Russell coming into the Miami Grand Prix.
Ferrari has brought a raft of updates to its car as it looks to continue its strong start to the campaign, as well as close down the performance gap to Mercedes.
2026 Miami Grand Prix Friday schedule
FP1: 5pm BST - 6:30pm BST
Sprint qualifying: 9:30pm BST - 10:14pm BST
01 May 2026
21:54
Hamilton up to second, 0.371s behind Leclerc.
Russell is third from Verstappen and Antonelli.
21:53
Leclerc now fastest with a 1m28.470s.
21:53
Lawson is jumping into his car. He got knocked out, but has there been some lap cancellations late on?
21:52
Russell leads with a 1m28.903s from Antonelli, 0.339s back.
21:51
Very close to a collision between Verstappen and Gasly in pitlane a moment ago. Alpine tried to get Gasly out in front, but Verstappen just sneaked through. That was tight.
21:50
McLaren hanging back just now.
21:50
The Mercedes duo are first on track. With just 10 minutes in this session, one yellow flag could be hugely costly, so track position is even more vital in this session.
21:49
The 10-minute SQ2 has begun.
21:47
Cadillac will be incredibly heartened by that session. Perez was just under three tenths from a place in SQ2. Small signs of progress.
21:45
Tight in that session. Just 0.010s splitting Norris and Leclerc.
Antonelli was the leading Mercedes in fifth, 0.589s down, while Russell was almost a second off the pace in sixth.
21:43
Lawson, Ocon, Perez, Albon, Bottas, Alonso, Stroll miss out on advancing.
Norris leads Leclerc, Piastri, Hamilton, Antonelli, Russell, Verstappen, Gasly, Hulkenberg and Hadjar.
21:42
Lindblad jumps up to 12th with his final lap. That was an important one for him.
21:42
SQ1 - Chequered flag
The chequered flag is out in SQ1.
21:41
Leclerc goes up to second, cutting Norris' advantage down to just 0.010s.
21:40
Bottas, Alonso, Colapinto, Lindblad, Lawson and Stroll are in the drop zone.
21:40
Stroll's session is over. He's taking his helmet off.
21:39
Norris sets a stunner with a 1m28.723s to take over top spot, while Piastri is up to second ahead of Leclerc.
21:39
Stroll is back in the pits after this moment.
21:38
Replay of Stroll shows him locking up massively into Turn 16, which led to him stopping briefly.
21:37
Antonelli splits the Ferraris, 0.022s off Leclerc. Verstappen fourth currently, 0.511s off the pace.
Russell only sixth.
21:36
Leclerc goes top
Leclerc goes top with a 1m29.290s, with Hamilton up to second.
21:36
Lance Stroll has stopped at Turn 16. He's beginning to move again, but that's ruined a lot of laps.
21:35
That's now been bested by Gasly with a 1m30.183s.
Yellow flags are out for something.
21:35
Bearman sets the benchmark at 1m30.843s.