Ferrari are expected to be one of the teams that will make a significant performance jump at the upcoming Miami Grand Prix, according to Sky Sports F1 analyst Martin Brundle. The Italian outfit is aiming to narrow the gap to Mercedes, even though the 2026 season is still shaping up to be highly unpredictable at the front of the grid. Brundle likened the return of Formula One to the United States after the mandatory April hiatus to a "relaunch of the season." He noted that the enforced break gave every team a rare opportunity to work on their machines for an extended period, resulting in cars that are "dramatically changed and, hopefully, improved." Those upgrades could reshuffle the current hierarchy and create new opportunities for teams that have struggled so far.
Mercedes, having swept the first three races of the year, remain the benchmark for the rest of the field. Their drivers, Kimi Antonelli, who currently leads the Drivers' Championship, and George Russell, have delivered a flawless start, reinforcing Mercedes' status as the team to beat. Close behind are Ferrari and their two star drivers, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, who sit eight points apart in third and fourth place respectively. Both drivers have provided fans with thrilling wheel‑to‑wheel duels, most notably in China and Japan, where they exchanged positions and fought for podium spots.
When asked about Hamilton's recent form, Brundle highlighted the British driver’s renewed confidence after breaking his podium drought for Ferrari at the Shanghai round. Although Hamilton only managed sixth place at Suzuka while Leclerc finished third, Brundle observed that Hamilton appears to be enjoying the current Ferrari more than he did with the ground‑effect cars of previous seasons.
"Lewis clearly enjoys these cars much more," Brundle told Sky Sports News. "Ferrari is more competitive and I think again will make a big step for Miami." He added that the new generation of cars suits Hamilton’s driving style better than the older, low‑rake, ground‑effect designs that were "brutal" and often felt mismatched to his approach. "His mood is a lot happier because Ferrari is more competitive," Brundle said. "He has to beat Charles Leclerc if he wants to win the world championship, and if there’s even a whiff of a victory, I think Lewis is still very much capable of taking that." Hamilton’s resurgence is particularly noteworthy given his long stint at Mercedes, where he won multiple championships.
Leclerc, on the other hand, has not tasted a win in 2024, with Ferrari’s last victory dating back to October 2023 when Carlos Sainz triumphed in Mexico City. Both drivers will be eager to end the winless spell and re‑establish Ferrari as a front‑running contender. The Miami weekend will also feature the second Sprint race of the season.
McLaren have dominated the Sprint format at the venue for the past two years, but Mercedes still enter as favourites thanks to their perfect record in the new 2026 regulations era. Brundle cautioned, however, that it is still too early to declare a definitive order under the new rule set, especially with 19 races still to run. "I think it’s totally wide open," Brundle emphasized. "We have a Sprint weekend in Miami, so there are Sprint points to be won, Grand Prix points to be won.
This is going to ebb and flow. I see teams leapfrogging each other with upgrades because there is so much upside potential with these cars.
Anybody in the top four teams, any of those eight drivers, could win this year’s world championship." The schedule for the Miami Grand Prix weekend is packed with action. On Thursday, April 30, the drivers' press conference kicks off at 7 pm, followed by the Paddock Uncut at 10 pm. Friday, May 1, features F2 practice at 2.35 pm, Miami GP practice one at 4.30 pm, F2 qualifying at 7.25 pm, the team bosses' press conference at 8.10 pm, and the Sprint qualifying session at 8.40 pm (starting at 9.30 pm).
Saturday, May 2, includes the F2 sprint at 2.55 pm, the build‑up to the Miami Sprint at 4 pm, the Sprint itself at 5 pm, Ted’s Sprint Notebook at 6.30 pm, the qualifying build‑up at 8 pm, Miami GP qualifying at 9 pm, and Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 11 pm. Finally, Sunday, May 3, offers the F2 feature race at 5.25 pm, the Grand Prix build‑up at 7 pm, the Miami Grand Prix at 9 pm, a post‑race reaction segment at 11 pm, and Ted’s Notebook at midnight.
All of these events will also be available on Sky Sports Main Event. Fans can stream every session via NOW, with no long‑term contract required, and can stay updated through Sky Sports' WhatsApp channel for the latest news, videos, analysis, and more. The Miami Grand Prix promises to be a pivotal moment in a season that, according to Brundle, remains "wide open" with plenty of room for surprise victories and shifting fortunes among the sport’s elite teams and drivers.