McLaren Slide to P4 and P7 in Miami Qualifying

Overview

• Lando Norris qualified fourth for the Miami Grand Prix with Oscar Piastri seventh, as Kimi Antonelli secured pole ahead of Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc.
• Norris said his final Q3 push began with reduced energy deployment from the car’s battery, which he felt ruined the lap from the start.
• He added that higher track temperatures, stronger wind, and a more rubbered-in surface changed grip and corner lines compared with earlier running.
• Lap data showed both McLaren drivers were slower than in the Sprint sessions, with Norris slipping from a 1:27.869 to a 1:28.183 and Piastri from a 1:28.108 to a 1:28.500.
• Piastri and Norris argued that rivals simply maximised their cars, pointing to expected pace from Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari and calling the grid a truer picture of the pecking order.