Kimi Antonelli (19), the championship leader, showcased his skills by securing pole position for the Miami Grand Prix, continuing Mercedes' stronghold on qualifying this season. Despite a challenging sprint race, where Lando Norris clinched victory, Antonelli bounced back to claim pole, finishing ahead of Max Verstappen by 0.166 seconds. Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris followed in third and fourth, respectively. Antonelli's teammate, George Russell, will start fifth, struggling to keep pace with the front runners. Mercedes has faced pressure from competitors like McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull, who have introduced significant upgrades to narrow the performance gap. Team principal Toto Wolff acknowledged the need for Mercedes to synchronize its upgrades to maintain its lead. The race is expected to face weather challenges, with a 40% chance of rain and potential lightning threats, prompting discussions about adjusting the race start time.