21:31
Bottas breaks the standoff and is first out.
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
21:32
McLaren plays down Red Bull claims Gianpiero Lambiase will replace Andrea Stella
McLaren addresses Red Bull claims about Gianpiero Lambiase's role.
McLaren plays down Red Bull claims Gianpiero Lambiase will replace Andrea Stella
Lambiase is leaving Red Bull to join McLaren
21:30
F1 Miami: SQ1
Pitlane is open for the 12-minute SQ1 session.
21:27
Track temperature is up at 52C ahead of SQ1. Hard to see us getting through this without at least one stoppage. We saw a lot of lock-ups and a few spins in FP1.
21:24
Mercedes hasn't been topped in a qualifying session yet this season. Today feels like it might be the day.
21:21
Just 10 minutes until sprint qualifying.
21:16
Williams' F1 weight loss work done, but will take time to reach the car
Williams has completed weight-loss work on its 2026 F1 car, but it will take time to reach the track
Williams' F1 weight loss work done, but will take time to reach the car
Alex Albon, Williams Racing, 2026 Miami F1
© XPB Images
20:55
Some intriguing footage from the end of FP1 between Leclerc and Verstappen.
20:47
Just under 45 minutes until SQ1.
20:43
Andrea Kimi Antonelli took sprint pole in Miami last year. The championship leader suffered an engine issue in FP1, which meant he didn't get any laps on soft rubber ahead of this sprint qualifying session.
20:40
This is our second sprint weekend of the year. Mercedes won the sprint in China with George Russell after a strong challenge from Ferrari.
Leclerc led the way in FP1 earlier today in an upgraded Ferrari.
20:32
F1 Miami: Sprint qualifying build-up
Good evening and welcome back to our live coverage of the 2026 Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix.
Sprint qualifying is coming up in just under an hour's time.
19:07
Aston Martin denies Belgian GP 'B-spec' F1 update plans
Aston Martin has denied speculation it is aiming at a major 'B-spec' car update for the Belgian Grand Prix
Aston Martin denies Belgian GP 'B-spec' F1 update plans
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin, 2026 Miami F1
© Dunbar / XPB Images
18:49
That's all for the track action until 9:30pm BST.
But keep your eyes fixed on Crash.net and the live blog for all the latest news between now and sprint qualifying.
18:46
Report: Charles Leclerc fastest in upgraded Ferrari, Mercedes on back foot at F1 Miami Grand Prix
Charles Leclerc sets impressive pace for Ferrari, as Mercedes hit early trouble in Miami.
Charles Leclerc fastest in upgraded Ferrari, Mercedes on back foot at F1 Miami Grand Prix
Leclerc put his upgraded Ferrari top in FP1
18:45
2026 F1 Miami Grand Prix: Full Friday practice results after FP1
Full results from Friday at the 2026 F1 Miami Grand Prix
2026 F1 Miami Grand Prix: Full Friday practice results after FP1
Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing, 2026 Miami F1
© XPB Images
18:30
Chequered flag - Miami F1 FP1
The chequered flag is out.
Charles Leclerc and Ferrari lead the way in FP1 from Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri.
Mercedes, for the moment, looks to be on the back foot heading into sprint qualifying.
Full results to follow...
18:28
Leclerc improves to a 1m29.310s.
18:25
Verstappen improves to second on a 1m29.607s after a second lap.
18:25
Albon might face the stewards after this session, as he was running very slowly on the racing line while on an outlap by the looks of it.
18:24
Antonelli power unit issue
Kimi Antonelli's session has been ended by a power unit issue.
18:24
Oh dear. Norris almost ran into the back of Albon into Turn 17.
18:23
Antonelli has jumped out of his car. So, no soft tyre run for him with just over six minutes to go.
18:22
Hamilton's lap was messy, but he moves up to third with a 1m29.777s.
18:20
Leclerc retakes top spot, though, with a 1m29.443s despite going deep into Turn 17. Verstappen second, Piastri now third.