Gentlemen, reach for your cagoules. Whether the Miami Grand Prix is drowned, dry or delayed, we know Kimi Antonelli earned the right to start it from pole position.
Oh, and that Max Verstappen is back in contention.
Mercedes teenager Antonelli, aged just 19, claimed a third pole in succession to plant himself firmly in the title picture only a few hours after Lando Norris took victory in the sprint hors d’oeuvres, a boost to title defence.
As for Antonelli, the Italian now chases a trio of consecutive victories to extend his lead in the early standings over team-mate George Russell, who is seven points behind him.
Antonelli’s pole, set on a track sizzling at 50C-plus at the Hard Rock Stadium, was achieved 0.166sec ahead of Verstappen in a rejuvenated Red Bull – very promising signs for him and them. Let’s not forget the scale of this turnaround from early-form that left Verstappen despondent and questioning his future in the sport.
Yes, early days in the revival being chased in Red Bull’s Milton Keynes factory, but are these rumblings of an army on the march?
Mercedes star Kimi Antonelli secured pole position for Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix
Antonelli pipped Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc to top spot in qualifying on Saturday
‘To be on the front row after being a second behind last time in Japan is astonishing,’ said Verstappen. ‘I don’t feel like a passenger in the car any longer.’
However, do not forget that Antonelli might have taken pole by a greater margin than he did other than for overexuberance on his second and final flying lap, braking late and wrecking that run. But his job was done by then. He most needs a good start today, though that has not necessarily been his or Mercedes’ forte in 2026.
Charles Leclerc was third quickest for Ferrari, Norris fourth for McLaren, Russell fifth and Lewis Hamilton sixth.
Everything is up to play after the five-week spring break brought about by the conflict in the Middle East striking out the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian races last month. This hiatus granted teams a window to develop their cars as they saw fit.
Most, therefore, have introduced major upgrades in Florida. Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren are high among them, though encouragingly for Mercedes they clearly remain outstanding – though Russell does not like this track and has been a touch out of sorts all weekend – despite holding back their improvements until Montreal three weeks hence.
And to the storm that is forecast for the race, which is due to start at 4pm local time (9pm GMT). Under state law, major events must be abandoned if lightning strikes. A decision on whether to bring the start forward was scheduled to be made by the FIA and Formula One Management on Saturday night based on the latest weather forecasts.
‘To be on the front row after being a second behind last time in Japan is astonishing,’ said Verstappen. ‘I don’t feel like a passenger in the car any longer.’
Feeding into the decision are safety concerns with this season’s new regulations having introduced unknown variables and speed differentials as the battery (yuck!) is recharged.
Verstappen, happy as Larry for the first time this season, said: ‘It will be quite a handful in the wet. It would not be easy. But let’s see how much rain there is. That will make a difference.’
The Dutchman has tested in the wet and knows what he is talking about. So has Hamilton, in Barcelona: ‘Very slippery,’ he said. Not so much fun now the tyres aren’t as grippy as they used to be.’
It sounds like potential entertainment for the observer. As long as the race goes ahead.
