Ferrari are expected to be one of the teams that make a significant performance jump at the upcoming Miami Grand Prix, aiming to narrow the gap to the dominant Mercedes squad as the 2026 season continues to evolve, according to Sky Sports F1 analyst Martin Brundle. Brundle sees the return of Formula One to the United States as a sort of "re‑launch" for the championship after the mandatory April hiatus. The break gave every team extra time to develop their cars, which have already undergone major revisions under the new regulations.
He believes these improvements could reshuffle the competitive hierarchy, with several teams potentially leap‑frogging each other as upgrades are introduced. Mercedes, having secured victories in the first three races of the year, enter the Miami round as the clear benchmark. Their drivers, championship leader Kimi Antonelli and teammate George Russell, have already demonstrated the pace and consistency that make them the team to beat at the moment. Close on Mercedes' heels are Ferrari and their two star drivers, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.
The pair sit eight points behind the leading duo, occupying third and fourth places in the Drivers' Championship. Their recent battles in China and Japan have been thrilling, with wheel‑to‑wheel duels that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
When asked about Hamilton's recent form, Brundle highlighted that the seven‑time world champion finally broke his Grand Prix podium drought for Ferrari in Shanghai, finishing on the podium in the second race of the season. Although Hamilton struggled at Suzuka, slipping to sixth while Leclerc claimed third, Brundle noted that the British driver appears far more comfortable in the current Ferrari chassis. "Lewis clearly enjoys these cars much more," Brundle told Sky Sports News.
"Ferrari is more competitive now, and I think they'll make a big step forward for Miami." He added that Hamilton's driving style seems better suited to the modern aerodynamic package than to the ground‑effect cars of previous years, which were notoriously harsh on drivers and often clashed with their preferred handling characteristics. "Lewis prefers this type of car to the ground‑effect era, which was quite brutal and didn't suit his style," Brundle explained. "His mood is noticeably better, and he looks a lot happier because Ferrari is finally giving him a car that can fight at the front." Brundle also emphasized that Hamilton will need to out‑perform his teammate Charles Leclerc if he hopes to capture the world title. "He has to beat Charles," Brundle said.
"If he can sustain this level of performance and catch a glimpse of a victory, Lewis is still very much capable of taking it." The context is important: Hamilton's last win with Mercedes came in 2024, while Ferrari's most recent triumph was Carlos Sainz's victory in Mexico City back in October 2024. Since then, the Scuderia has endured a winless stretch, adding pressure on both drivers to deliver results. The Miami event will be the season's second Sprint weekend.
In the past two years, McLaren has dominated the Sprint format at this venue, but Mercedes remains the favorite for the overall Grand Prix, having won every race since the introduction of the new 2026 regulations. Nevertheless, Brundle cautions against drawing premature conclusions about the pecking order.
With 19 races still to run and the new technical regulations still in their infancy, the championship landscape remains fluid. "I think it's totally wide open," he said.
"We have a Sprint weekend in Miami, so there are Sprint points up for grabs as well as the main Grand Prix points. This will ebb and flow. Teams will be leapfrogging each other with upgrades because there is so much upside potential in these cars." He went on to suggest that any of the top‑four teams—Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull, and possibly McLaren—could produce a driver capable of winning the championship.
"Anybody in the top four, any of those eight drivers, could win this year's world championship," Brundle asserted. The schedule for the Miami weekend is packed. On Thursday, April 30, the drivers' press conference will start at 7 p.m., followed by the paddock uncut at 10 p.m. Friday, May 1, will feature F2 practice at 2.35 p.m., the first Miami GP practice session at 4.30 p.m., F2 qualifying at 7.25 p.m., a team bosses' press conference at 8.10 p.m., and the Sprint qualifying session at 8.40 p.m.
Saturday, May 2, includes the F2 sprint at 2.55 p.m., a build‑up to the Miami Sprint at 4 p.m., the sprint race itself at 5 p.m., and a series of analysis programmes such as "Ted's Sprint Notebook" at 6.30 p.m., followed by qualifying build‑up and the Miami GP qualifying at 9 p.m. and 11 p.m., respectively. Sunday, May 3, will see the F2 feature race at 5.25 p.m., a Grand Prix build‑up at 7 p.m., the main Miami Grand Prix at 9 p.m., a post‑race reaction segment at 11 p.m., and the final "Ted's Notebook" at midnight. All events will also be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event.
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Brundle's optimism suggests that the Miami Grand Prix could be a turning point for Ferrari, potentially reshaping the championship battle and giving Lewis Hamilton a renewed chance to add another title to his illustrious career.