Lando Norris praises improvements after securing F1 Sprint pole in Miami

F1 2026 Season Update: McLaren Shines at Miami Grand Prix

The opening trio of race weekends in the 2026 Formula 1 season saw Mercedes dominate every session, with both drivers finishing in P1 consistently. At the Australian Grand Prix, George Russell clinched pole position and claimed victory. Kimi Antonelli followed suit at the Chinese Grand Prix and the Japanese Grand Prix, where Russell also excelled in the F1 sprint race.

This week, F1 resumed with the Miami Grand Prix. During the break, McLaren used the opportunity to introduce several upgrades, which appeared to shift their fortunes. After the F1 sprint qualifying on Friday, defending drivers’ champion Lando Norris found himself at the top of the timesheets.

Norris expressed his satisfaction with the upgrades, noting that he was thrilled to feel “grip” again in the car. “This is a perfect result for us and a good way to reward the team. We’ve had a lot of new upgrades on the car, so it’s nice to be able to feel the grip again,” he mentioned. He also shared his fondness for Miami. “We always feel good here, and it’s just the beginning of the weekend. I’m happy to start from pole position.”

Both Norris and his teammate, Oscar Piastri, who qualified third, discussed the enhancements during McLaren’s media interactions. Piastri reflected on the performance, saying, “I’m happy with that. The car had good potential. There are still things to improve, but the new package is a good step. Congratulations to Lando as well. We were unlucky with today’s result, but the potential is definitely there.” He added that Ferrari looked strong during the session, making their own qualification result quite commendable.

Norris also shared his thoughts on the upgrades, emphasizing that, “We went into this weekend putting a lot of effort into these upgrades. It’s always uncertain what will happen until the car is on the track. But honestly, it felt like we took a step forward from the first lap.” He expressed confidence and readiness to exploit the car’s potential.

Despite the promising start, Norris acknowledged the need for caution. “It’s been great so far, but we’re grounded. The competition is fierce, and there’s still much to learn about race pace. We’re still figuring out how to optimize this new package,” he said, focusing on their strategy for the upcoming sprint race and Grand Prix qualifying.

According to the team’s announcement, McLaren introduced seven new components to the FIA in Miami, including a new rear wing and a fresh floor. Neil Holdie, the technical director of applied engineering, referred to this upgrade as “the first phase” of their development program.

Holdie expressed satisfaction with the results from the first day of practice, indicating that the upgrades delivered positive signs for both drivers. “Given how we performed in the initial races, securing pole position and third on the sprint grid is a significant advancement. Kudos to the entire team for their hard work, from design to assembly,” he remarked.