P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Here’s our pick of the stars and flops from Miami F1 sprint qualifying
Formula 1’s highly anticipated return after nearly five weeks showcased McLaren’s first pole position of 2026 and brought forth a plethora of surprises and excitement during the Miami sprint qualifying.
Mercedes, the reigning champions, faced a setback with their drivers finishing in 2nd and 6th place, marking their first defeat of the season in a competitive session, despite Kimi Antonelli securing a front row start.
Intriguingly, Mercedes seems to be under pressure due to rule changes aiming to lessen reliance on electrical energy tactics, coupled with competitors introducing significant upgrades while Mercedes lags behind.
Max Verstappen emerged victorious by finishing 5th, the closest he has been to the top pace this season, indicating progress for Red Bull despite performance trade-offs with speed and cornering abilities.
On the flip side, Isack Hadjar’s 9th place finish was disappointing, marking his worst qualifying of the season and leaving him frustrated about the significant time gap from the lead, raising questions about his ability to adapt to the car’s upgrades and find optimal performance.
