How did Mercedes achieve “its solid turnaround” after opening day in Miami?

F1 Grand Prix, GP Miami, Miami

The Sprint had been another reminder of Mercedes’ Achilles’ heel in 2026: race starts. Antonelli’s second‑place grid slot evaporated almost immediately due to what the team described as a “glitch in the system,” dropping him into a fierce intra‑team duel with Russell.

The pair traded positions repeatedly in a prolonged, high‑intensity fight for P4, with Antonelli ultimately finishing ahead on the road—only to be demoted to sixth after a five‑second penalty for repeated track‑limits violations.

But when it mattered most, the 19‑year‑old delivered. His first lap in Q3, a 1:27.798, was a statement: clean, committed, and fast enough that even a lock‑up on his second attempt could not threaten his pole. It was his third in a row, and once again Russell could not match him over a single lap at Miami.

Antonelli was visibly relieved to have turned the day around: “I am very happy with how qualifying went for us today. It was a great recovery after a difficult Sprint and the best way to finish the day.

"I was very happy with my lap and felt like I maximised the car and my performance. I was frustrated to abort my last push lap after a lock up but thankfully the first effort was good enough for P1.”

He also acknowledged the team’s ongoing weakness at the start: “The weather could be tricky but we will be ready for whatever is thrown our way. The aim is always to be prepared and get to the chequered flag as fast as possible.

"We will work hard to improve our start for Sunday as that has been a major limitation so far this year. I’m confident that as a team we can do so though and put ourselves in the strongest position to fight for the win.”

Russell’s Sprint was combative but ultimately frustrating. He finished fifth after losing out to Antonelli in their duel, and his qualifying session continued the theme of a weekend where he never quite felt in sync with the Miami circuit.

His 1:28.197 was good enough for P5, but he believed more was possible: “P5 is a disappointing result. Kimi did a great job to get pole but, on my side, I think we could have been P3 if we’d have maximised everything.

"Sadly, given how close the front of the field is, a few small mistakes added up to dropping us a few positions further down the grid. It’s not been my best weekend of the season so far, and I’ve struggled to get along with this track, but I’m hopeful tomorrow will be better.”

With rain forecast for Sunday, Russell expects the race to be unpredictable: “The expected rain tomorrow will likely play a role in how the Grand Prix goes.

"We’ve not raced these cars in the wet so that’s an unknown. I’m confident we’ve got good underlying pace though and hopefully that helps us achieve a better result on Sunday.”

Team principal Toto Wolff was candid about Mercedes’ struggles earlier in the weekend but praised the team’s ability to reset between sessions. The overnight changes after the Sprint appeared to unlock more stability and confidence in the W17, particularly for Antonelli.

“That was a solid turnaround after a tough weekend here in Miami for us so far. The changes after the Sprint helped get the car in a better place and Kimi delivered a great lap come Qualifying.

"He pushed slightly too hard on his final effort, but his first one was still good enough for pole. Everything came together for him, and he had the confidence to deliver.”

Wolff also highlighted Russell’s recovery: “George recovered well despite not feeling at ease with the car today. He was potentially on for P3 before a small mistake at the final corner but he showed he has the pace to battle from P5. It was an incredibly tight session with four different teams in the mix for pole and that is great to see.”

But he was quick to shift focus to Sunday: “Whilst we are pleased with how our Saturday has ended, Sunday is where it all counts. We saw in the Sprint that overtaking is not easy, but the weather is looking changeable tomorrow. That will certainly make our lives interesting so let’s see what the Grand Prix brings.”