MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Packed grandstands, a sun-soaked racetrack and a high-energy festival atmosphere set the stage as the FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX roared back into life for its fifth edition at the Miami International Autodrome. Fans filled the campus around Hard Rock Stadium to enjoy the blend of world-class racing and premium entertainment as the 2026 race weekend burst into action.
Sprint Pole mood 😁#MiamiGP pic.twitter.com/U7tpZd7i08
— F1 Miami Grand Prix (@f1miami) May 1, 2026
Against this backdrop, Lando Norris returned to Miami Gardens to secure pole position for tomorrow’s Sprint race. The reigning world champion, who claimed his maiden Grand Prix victory at this venue in 2023, continued his strong record in Miami by setting a benchmark time of 1m27.869s in Sprint qualifying — 0.222s faster than 2026 World Championship points leader Kimi Antonelli. McLaren underlined their pace with Oscar Piastri securing third, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc — fastest in earlier practice — will line up fourth on the Sprint grid.
“This is a perfect result for us and a nice way to reward the team. We have a lot of new upgrades on the car so it’s nice to feel some grip again,” said Norris. “I’ve always loved Miami, both on and off the track, so it’s a good result for us. We know this track has been good to us, and we knew what we were bringing might be a good step and it is. I’ve always felt good around here and although it’s only the beginning of the weekend and there’s a long way to go, but it’s nice to start with pole.”
Something about Lando in Miami 😮💨#MiamiGP | @McLarenF1 pic.twitter.com/P11utPMn8B
— F1 Miami Grand Prix (@f1miami) May 1, 2026
The competitive F1 on-track action began with Sprint qualifying, held in hot and humid conditions, with air temperatures peaking at 31°C and track temperatures exceeding 50°C. The opening 12-minute session of SQ1 saw the first six drivers eliminated, including both Aston Martin cars and the new Cadillac team at their home race. There were few surprises in SQ2, although the challenging conditions on the 3.36-mile circuit caught several drivers out with front lock-ups under braking.
In the final SQ3 shootout, all ten drivers completed a single flying lap. George Russell briefly went fastest for Mercedes before being eclipsed by Norris. Piastri made it a McLaren one-two before Antonelli delivered a strong lap to secure a front row start alongside Norris.
OUR 2024 WINNER TAKES #F1Sprint POLE 🤩#MiamiGP | @Waymo pic.twitter.com/U27Kzh4YFZ
— F1 Miami Grand Prix (@f1miami) May 1, 2026
Prior to Sprint qualifying, all 22 drivers took to the track for an extended 90-minute Free Practice 1 session this morning, allowing teams additional time to evaluate car setups and adapt to recent technical regulation adjustments. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc set the pace with a time of 1m29.310s, finishing ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Piastri.
Formula 2 made its North American debut in Miami, delivering an exciting qualifying session earlier in the day. Alpine Academy driver Kush Maini secured the fastest time for ART Grand Prix by just 0.033s ahead of Rafael Camara and Martinus Stenshorne. For Saturday’s Sprint race, the top ten will be reversed, placing Nikola Tsolov on pole. American driver Colton Herta will start from 14th on the grid for Hitech.
Off track, the FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX continued to build its position at the intersection of sport, business and culture through a new partnership with Autosport Business Exchange. The invite-only forum brought together senior leaders from across global business, technology and sport, hosted at Hard Rock Stadium. The event was opened by Stephen M. Ross, Managing General Partner of the Miami Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium, and the FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX.
“This is the fifth edition of hosting Formula 1 here in Miami,” said Ross. “And already you can see the transformation that has taken place across South Florida since our first race. As the event has grown, so too has its impact — socially, culturally and economically. It’s an honour to witness that progress, and remarkable to reflect on what has been achieved in just five years.”
The Miami edition of Autosport Business Exchange featured a high-profile lineup of speakers including Tom Garfinkel, Managing Partner of the FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX, Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown, Eddy Cue, SVP of Apple Services and Mary Barra, CEO of GM.
During the forum, Garfinkel revealed plans to further elevate the event’s premium hospitality offering with a significant expansion of the Paddock Club. The new 115,000-square-foot extension, set for completion ahead of the 2027 race, will stretch from the start/finish straight to Turn 1, building on the permanent structure introduced in 2023 and reinforcing Miami’s position as one of the most luxurious experiences on the Formula 1 calendar.
Speaking at ABX Miami, Katharina Nowak, President of the FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX said: “As we kick off the fifth edition of our Grand Prix, we are proud to continue building something that is distinctly and authentically Miami. Our focus has been on evolving the event while staying true to its identity, creating a platform where sport, culture and business intersect in a way that is unique within Formula 1. The growth of this event has been incredible to see, and we are excited to keep innovating as we look to the future. It’s a really exciting time for Formula 1 right now, and we are honored to play a role in building and growing the sport here in the United States.”
The action continues tomorrow at the Miami International Autodrome with the F1 Sprint race, qualifying for Sunday’s Grand Prix, the Formula 2 Sprint race, and support series action from Porsche Carrera Cup and the McLaren Trophy.
For more information, visit f1miamigp.com.
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