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Live coverage of the Canadian Grand Prix qualifying at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, following the Sprint, as drivers chase the best grid for tomorrow’s race; session starts at 16:00 local time and lasts 60 minutes, with live timing and a weekend guide available.
Formula 1’s move to hybrid-electric power is being questioned, with talk of bringing back V8 engines to restore noise and spectacle during events like the Miami Grand Prix, as discussed amid FIA leadership and team coverage.
Miami marked the return of F1 with new 2026 rules aimed at closer racing via lighter cars and a hybrid power split. The changes lowered energy harvesting in qualifying from 8 to 7 MJ and boosted peak electrical power to 350 kW to stabilise the speed profile. Reactions were mixed: Verstappen criticized the direction, Leclerc called it a step in the right direction, Norris remained unconvinced, and Piastri said the problems aren’t fixed though some improvements were seen, with times slower than 2025. With 2027 engine rule changes reportedly in the works, more tweaks could be coming to the formula.
Pole-sitter Kimi Antonelli led a Mercedes-boosted qualifying session as McLaren’s updated package delivered a strong sprint 1-2 for Norris and Piastri; Verstappen closed the gap but couldn’t topple the Italian, with Ferrari showing progress from its updates but still behind. The Miami sprint was defined by rear-tyre overheating on a hot, low-grip, wind-affected track, and unpredictable weather on Sunday could shuffle the order again.
Kimi Antonelli claimed pole for the 2026 Miami Grand Prix with a 1:27.798, about 0.3s clear of Max Verstappen; Leclerc and Norris locked the second row, with Russell fifth and Hamilton sixth. Oscar Piastri and Norris faced power-unit/boost issues, Gabriel Bortoleto endured a sprint disqualification and then a brake-fire ending his session, while Nico Hülkenberg and the rest of the field completed qualifying in positions from 11th onward. Full qualifying results listed below.
Lando Norris topped sprint qualifying at the Miami Grand Prix in an upgraded McLaren, beating championship leader Kimi Antonelli to take sprint pole as Mercedes suffered its first qualifying defeat of 2026 following mid‑season upgrades; Norris clocked 1m27.869s in SQ3, with Leclerc, Piastri and Verstappen close behind as Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull pushed hard after the break.
GianPiero Lambiase, Verstappen’s race engineer since 2016 and Red Bull’s head of racing since 2024, will leave Red Bull to join McLaren on a lucrative contract, with a potential move timeline around 2028 when his current deal ends; his exact role at McLaren is unclear, potentially as a senior race engineer or a deputy to team principal Andrea Stella.
F1’s first sprint weekend of 2026 in Shanghai drew a massive crowd to the Tilke-designed circuit as Mercedes led the pace and Ferraris chased, but reliability issues marred the weekend with several DNFs and DNSs. Kimi Antonelli secured his maiden F1 win on Sunday after pole in the sprint, while Hamilton and Leclerc completed the podium; teams will push upgrades ahead of the next race in Japan as they regroup from the mixed results.
Formula 1 and the FIA announced the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix will not take place in April due to safety concerns linked to the Iran war and broader Middle East tensions, with no substitutions planned and a five-week gap before the next race in Miami.
Formula 1 has canceled the Bahrain Grand Prix on April 12 and the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix on April 19 due to the Iran war and broader Middle East instability; no replacement races will be added this April, leaving a five-week gap between the Japanese Grand Prix and the Miami Grand Prix, and the F2, F3, and F1 Academy events in those countries are also canceled.
The 2026 Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix have been canceled due to the ongoing Middle East conflict, scrapping the April races and creating a 35-day gap between the Japanese GP (March 29) and the Miami GP (May 3). The cancellations also extend to supporting events (F2, F3, and F1 Academy) with no substitutions planned, following a FIA decision made in consultation with Formula One Group and local promoters, potentially impacting teams financially and tightening the calendar.
George Russell took sprint pole in Shanghai for Mercedes, beating teammate Kimi Antonelli by 0.289s with Norris third and Hamilton fourth; Piastri fifth and Leclerc sixth complemented a Mercedes-dominated front, while Verstappen endured an eighth-place showing as Red Bull lagged. Russell’s pole is his second in six days after Australia, highlighting Mercedes’ pace in the sprint format ahead of tomorrow’s race.
George Russell won the Australian Grand Prix from pole, beating Leclerc after a tight early battle and Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli, then urged the FIA to immediately review the new battle-promoting modes—specifically the straight mode—citing reduced front-end grip and understeer as potential issues, with a next race in Shanghai on the horizon.
Mercedes reasserted itself in a chaotic Australian Grand Prix, led by Russell and the maturing Antonelli as the team unveiled a stronger energy-deployment approach under the 2026 rules; Cadillac delivered a promising F1 debut with solid pace, while Red Bull and Audi showed competitive form despite early teething issues. McLaren struggled to sustain momentum across the new regulations, Aston Martin–Honda battled vibrations and reliability concerns, Williams lagged with weight and downforce penalties, and rookies Isack Hadjar and Arvid Lindblad impressed for Racing Bulls, with Piastri's home race ending in retirement and Bearman/Colapinto earning praise for smart saves.
George Russell topped final Australian Grand Prix practice, his 1:19.053 lap 0.616s quicker than Hamilton, after Kimi Antonelli suffered a heavy Turn Two crash that Mercedes must rebuild from before qualifying. Leclerc and Piastri completed the top four, Verstappen was sixth amid an energy deployment issue, and Lance Stroll did not run FP3 due to an engine problem, with qualifying set for 04:30 GMT.