Antonelli surprised by Verstappen's front-row charge in Miami qualifying

Kimi Antonelli secured pole position for the Miami Grand Prix but admitted his Mercedes team was stunned to see Max Verstappen's Red Bull join him on the front row. The Italian delivered a stunning single flying lap for pole, while Verstappen's last-gasp effort marked a dramatic and unexpected turnaround for a Red Bull team that has struggled for form this season.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's qualifying performance signals a potential resurgence for Red Bull, which has been off the pace since the start of the 2026 season. A front-row start is a major morale boost and strategic advantage, suggesting their recent major upgrade package is beginning to work. For Mercedes, it introduces a direct and formidable threat from a rival they did not anticipate being so competitive this weekend.

The details:

• Antonelli's pole lap was a single flying run effort, as he was forced to abort his second attempt after making a mistake.
• The Mercedes driver revealed his team had been struggling with balance more than usual throughout the Miami weekend, requiring key setup changes ahead of qualifying to find performance.
• Red Bull's Rebound: Verstappen attributed the improved performance to finally gaining confidence with the car's balance after a difficult start to the year, praising the team's push on upgrades.
  • He admitted he had never felt completely comfortable with the overall layout of the RB22 until now.
• Antonelli's Assessment: The polesitter pointed to the combination of Red Bull's significant new upgrades and Verstappen's exceptional ability to extract maximum performance from the car as reasons for the surprise result.

What's next:

All eyes will be on the race start, an area where Verstappen has had issues this season. He specifically highlighted the importance of a clean launch from the front row.

• The uncertain weather forecast for Sunday adds another layer of strategy and unpredictability to the Grand Prix.
• Red Bull will be looking to convert their qualifying promise into a strong race result to confirm their progress is real, while Mercedes aims to defend their pole advantage against a suddenly competitive rival.