McLaren faces "reality check" at Miami Grand Prix

Written by Maham Mir

The sprint victory comes straight off the back of McLaren's first race podium in Suzuka last time out | Credit: Formula One

McLaren started the day with a celebration, becoming the first non-Mercedes race win in any format since the start of the 2026 season. However, these celebrations were not to last after a less than ideal qualifying result with reigning world champion Lando Norris starting in fourth and his teammate Oscar Piastri in seventh. 

Speaking to the media after the end of the session, Norris identified that “both cars struggled more than yesterday”. In sprint qualifying on Friday, McLaren became the first non-Mercedes team to take pole position in any format. Additionally, it was the first time that McLaren out-performed Mercedes, their engine supplier, this time this season.

Norris added that “we [McLaren] were surprised about how quick we were yesterday”, alluding that the reigning world constructors’ champions were not expecting to battle right at the front. Although the team have brought an extensive upgrade package to Miami, similar to the one brought in 2024, Mercedes seem to remain a touch out of reach in front. 

Piastri still leads 3-1 in the teammate qualifying head to head against Norris | Credit: Formula One

Norris’ teammate Piastri, although finishing second in the sprint to Norris, had a less successful qualifying session after he is set to start tomorrow’s Grand Prix in seventh. Discussing the performance of his team and the sudden change from the sprint, the Australian identified that it was “very variable from a lot of things” including the sudden shift in wind.

Throughout the hour of qualifying, Piastri himself identified that it was “not the smoothest of sessions” after he only progressed into Q2 by the smallest of margins. Even on his final run in Q3, where he briefly set the fastest middle sector, the nine-time Grand Prix winner said that the time was “all a bit random”. 

While many of the drivers and teams have been focusing on the potential for opportunity in the forecasted wet weather conditions, Piastri took a more pragmatic approach by highlighting that “no one knows what they’re going to do”. Although the recent refinements to the 2026 regulations included new guidelines for wet weather racing, there has been no running in the rain so far in 2026. 

There can be no doubt that the upgrade package brought by the Woking based team has certainly brought them closer to the front. However, both Norris and Piastri will have it all to do if they want to convert their starting positions into either podium finishes or a potential race win.