MIAMI GARDENS – Reigning world champion Lando Norris claimed pole position for Saturday’s sprint race at the Miami International Autodrome. He’ll start his McLaren alongside current Formula One championship leader, 19-year-old Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli on the front row for 19-lap race which starts at noon ET.
It was a strong sprint qualifying session late Friday afternoon for the McLaren team which has had a slow start to the season but has historically been strong in the Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix. Norris’ fast lap was 1:27.869 around the 3.363-mile 19-turn circuit around Hard Rock Stadium.
He won the sprint race last year and his teammate Oscar Piastri is the defending Miami Grand Prix race winner. Piastri was third quickest Friday, followed by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and two-time Miami race winner, four-time world champion Max Verstappen for Red Bull.
“I’ve always loved Miami honestly,’’ said Norris, who scored his first career F1 victory in the 2024 Miami Grand Prix.
“This is a good result for us and still a long weekend, but a good way to start.
“We’ve known this track has always been good to us and the team deserved that,’’ added Norris, whose title defense has lagged this season. He’s only ranked fifth in the championship standings with a meager 25 points after the first three races..
“Perfect way for me to start a weekend,’’ Norris said.
The Cadillac Formula 1 team – in its debut season – will start 19th (Sergio Perez) and 20th (Valtteri Bottas) on the 22-car sprint race grid.
Qualifying for Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix will be held at 4 p.m. ET Saturday. The Red Bull driver Verstappen has started on pole position the last two years with Perez claiming pole in 2023 also for Red Bull. Leclerc won the race’s inaugural pole position in 2022.
In Formula 2 qualifying, Indian driver Kush Maini claimed pole position for Saturday’s 23-lap Sprint Race (10:30 a.m.). He’ll start the ART Grand Prix team car on the front row alongside Brazilian Rafael Camara. After leading Friday’s practice session, American Colton Herta was only 14th fastest among the 22 drivers in qualifying. Miami-native Sebastian Montoya will start 20th.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Lando Norris claims pole position for sprint race at Miami Grand Prix
Reporting by Holly Cain, Special to The Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
