MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Kimi Antonelli helped Mercedes rebound from a disappointing showing in the Saturday sprint race at the Miami Grand Prix by winning the pole in qualifying just a few hours later.
It's the third consecutive pole for the current Formula One championship leader, who blocked Max Verstappen from taking the top starting spot at Miami International Autodrome for a third straight year.
Mercedes has dominated the competition this season, with George Russell winning from the pole in the season-opening race, then Antonelli winning from the pole in the two grands prix that followed. F1 then had a five-week break when a pair of races in the Middle East were canceled because of the war in Iran.
All teams made upgrades to their cars during the break, but after Russell was fourth and Antonelli sixth in Saturday's sprint race, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff acknowledged “we are a little out of sync with our upgrades compared to other teams.”
Antonelli recovered by qualifying and turned a lap at 1 minute, 28.653 seconds to beat Verstappen of Red Bull for the pole.
“Obviously a difficult start of the day with the sprint where it didn't go our way, but super happy with the recovery,” Antonelli said. “We will do our best this week and obviously it's been a little bit more difficult for us.”
Verstappen earned his best starting spot of the season as Red Bull has seemingly improved with its car upgrades. The four-time world champion — a two-time winner at Miami — had qualified sixth in Australia, eighth in China and 11th in Japan.
His best finish of the season so far was sixth in the Australia season opener, and the Dutchman has been so frustrated with the current car regulations that he's talked about potentially leaving F1.
He was all smiles after his qualifying result.
“For sure the car has not been great in the previous races and from my side I never felt comfortable with the layout of the car,” Verstappen said. “I think over the those last few weeks the team has been pushing to try to bring upgrades to the car and making me feel more comfortable with a lot of things in the car and it really pays off.
“I feel more in control of the car again and I can push a bit more. To be on the front row is way better than I expected heading into the weekend.”
Charles Leclerc, who was third in the sprint race, qualified third for Ferrari. Lando Norris, the reigning world champion and defending Miami Grand Prix winner, qualified fourth for McLaren after winning the sprint race from the pole.
Russell was fifth, Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari was sixth and Oscar Piastri of McLaren was seventh after finishing second in the sprint race.
Both of the Cadillac drivers failed to advance out of the first round in the team's first race in the United States. Despite major upgrades made to the new car during the five-week break between the Japanese Grand Prix on March 29 and Miami, Valtteri Bottas qualified 20th and Sergio Perez was 21st.
Only Gabriel Bortoleto qualified below them, last in 22nd, because of an issue that caused his Audi to catch fire.
F1 and the FIA governing body are considering adjusting the schedule for Sunday's race because of heavy rain expected in Miami. Most of the drivers have been concerned since Thursday about the forecast, which calls for thunderstorms. The race must be paused if there's lightning in the area because conditions must be clear enough for a medical helicopter to operate when cars are on the track.
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Ferrari driver Arthur Leclerc of Monaco reacts after a qualifying session for the Miami Formula One Grand Prix auto race, Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Ferrari driver Arthur Leclerc of Monaco, left, talks with Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands after a qualifying session for the Miami Formula One Grand Prix auto race, Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli of Italy talks with Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands after a qualifying session for the Miami Formula One Grand Prix auto race, Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany (AP) — Edin Džeko returned in time for the celebrations as seven-time German champion Schalke sealed its return to the Bundesliga with a 1-0 win over Fortuna Düsseldorf on Saturday.
“Back where you belong,” former Schalke great Raúl wrote on Instagram.
Kenan Karaman’s strike in the 13th minute was enough for Schalke to move an unassailable 10 points clear of third-place Hannover in Germany’s second division. Hannover has three games remaining and Schalke has two. The top two teams secure automatic promotion to the top division.
“I cannot put it in words,” said Karaman, the team captain who unleashed the ball inside the far post for his 14th goal of the season. “We waited a long time for this moment, as a club, as a city, all the people around it. I'm just happy that we could take the final step at home because the fans deserve it.”
The supporters were urged not to storm the field and hundreds of stewards lined up to ensure there were no injuries, but the fans seemed to be content to celebrate in the stands with flares, beer and songs.
“There was a lot of pressure, so much pressure. The last years weren't easy,” Karaman said of three straight seasons in the second division, two of which almost ended in demotion to the third division.
The turnaround came last summer with the appointment of Miron Muslić as coach by sporting director Frank Baumann. The 43-year-old Muslić turned the team from one in crisis to a candidate for promotion. Schalke is well-placed to clinch the second division title ahead of second-place Paderborn.
Schalke’s push this season was helped by the surprise signing of Džeko in January. The now 40-year-old Bosnia forward chipped in six goals in nine league appearances for Schalke. But he hadn't played since suffering a shoulder injury in Bosnia’s World Cup playoff win over Italy on March 31.
Others stepped up in Džeko’s absence, especially Mali forward Moussa Sylla, who scored three of his seven goals this season in Schalke’s last six games.
Džeko made his comeback after coming on as a substitute in the 69th minute on Saturday. He didn’t score, but none of the Schalke fans among 61,587 supporters in the sold-out stadium were complaining.
“We wanted this win, we wanted to celebrate with the fans today,” said Džeko, who didn't want to look too far ahead. “First we celebrate, but I'm very very happy with this decision to come here in January.”
It’s Schalke’s second promotion from the second division in five years after its initial relegation from the Bundesliga in 2021. Schalke bounced back as second-division champion the following season but it was relegated again in 2023 after just one season in the top division.
“Nothing is more important than bringing this club back to where it belongs,” Schalke defender Timo Becker said.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Schalke's goalkeeper Loris Karius celebrates at the end of the German Bundesliga 2 soccer match between FC Schalke 04 and Fortuna Duesseldorf in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Schalke players celebrate at the end of the German Bundesliga 2 soccer match between FC Schalke 04 and Fortuna Duesseldorf in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Schalke's head coach Miron Muslic celebrates with family members at the end of the German Bundesliga 2 soccer match between FC Schalke 04 and Fortuna Duesseldorf in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Schalke players celebrate at the end of the German Bundesliga 2 soccer match between FC Schalke 04 and Fortuna Duesseldorf in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Schalke's Timo Becker, center, celebrates at the end of the German Bundesliga 2 soccer match between FC Schalke 04 and Fortuna Duesseldorf in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
FC Schalke 04 supporters march to the stadium ahead of their 2. Bundesliga match against Fortuna Duesseldorf, where their club can secure early promotion back to the Bundesliga with a win in the evening at the Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
FC Schalke 04 supporters march to the stadium ahead of their 2. Bundesliga match against Fortuna Duesseldorf, where their club can secure early promotion back to the Bundesliga with a win in the evening at the Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Schalke fans sing and hold up scarves prior to the German Bundesliga 2 soccer match between FC Schalke 04 and Fortuna Duesseldorf in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Schalke's Edin Dzeko, left, tries to block a shot from Duesseldorf's Tim Oberdorf during the German Bundesliga 2 soccer match between FC Schalke 04 and Fortuna Duesseldorf in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Schalke fans light flares during the German Bundesliga 2 soccer match between FC Schalke 04 and Fortuna Duesseldorf in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
