Ferrari are expected to be one of the teams that make a substantial leap forward in performance at the upcoming Miami Grand Prix, according to Sky Sports F1 analyst Martin Brundle. The Italian squad is aiming to narrow the gap to the dominant Mercedes, even though the 2026 season is already shaping up to be highly competitive at the front of the grid. Brundle likened the return to racing in the United States to a "relaunch of the season" after the mandatory April hiatus. He explained that the break has given every team a rare opportunity to overhaul their cars, incorporating major aerodynamic and mechanical upgrades that could dramatically alter the hierarchy.
With the new regulations still in their infancy, the potential for reshuffling the pecking order is significant. Mercedes, having won the first three races of the year, enter the Miami weekend as the clear benchmark.
Their drivers, Kimi Antonelli, who currently leads the Drivers' Championship, and George Russell, have demonstrated a seamless blend of speed and reliability that sets a high bar for their rivals. Close on Mercedes' heels are Ferrari and their two-star driver lineup: Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. The pair sit eight points behind the leading Mercedes drivers, occupying third and fourth place in the championship standings. Their recent battles in China and Japan have been particularly thrilling, with wheel‑to‑wheel duels that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
When asked about Hamilton's recent form, Brundle noted that the seven‑time world champion appears far more comfortable in a Ferrari than he did during his Mercedes tenure. Hamilton broke his long‑standing Grand Prix podium drought at the second round in Shanghai, but struggled at Suzuka, finishing sixth while Leclerc claimed third. Brundle said, "Lewis clearly enjoys these cars much more. Ferrari is more competitive and I think again will make a big step for Miami." He added that Hamilton's driving style seems better suited to the current generation of cars, which rely heavily on aerodynamic efficiency rather than the ground‑effect designs that dominated previous seasons.
"Lewis obviously prefers this type of car to the seasons we had with the ground‑effect cars that were smashing against the ground and were quite brutal things, it didn't seem to suit his style," Brundle explained. "But just his mood and the way he's going about it, he just seems a lot happier because Ferrari is more competitive." Brundle emphasized that Hamilton still has a realistic shot at victory if he can capitalize on any opening. "He's got to beat Charles Leclerc if he's going to win the world championship in the other Ferrari, and others.
Let's see if he can sustain that. If there's a sniff of a victory, I think Lewis is still very much capable of taking that," he said. While Hamilton and Leclerc are the headline names, the broader context is that Ferrari have not won a race since Carlos Sainz's triumph in Mexico City back in October 2024. The team's victory drought adds extra pressure, but also fuels motivation to end the barren spell at Miami.
The Miami Grand Prix will also host the season's second Sprint weekend, a format that has become a crucial source of points. McLaren have won both of the previous Sprint events, yet Mercedes remain favourites given their flawless start to the new regulatory era in 2026. Brundle cautioned, however, that it is still too early to declare a definitive hierarchy. "I think it's totally wide open," he said.
"We have got 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 others with some upgrades because there is so much upside potential with these cars." He went on to suggest that any of the eight drivers representing the top four teams could realistically claim the world championship by season's end. The combination of a long development window, 19 races remaining, and the unpredictable nature of the new technical regulations means that consistency will be as important as outright speed. The race weekend schedule is packed with supporting events, including Formula 2 practice and qualifying sessions, as well as multiple Sky Sports analysis programmes such as "Ted's Sprint Notebook" and "Ted's Qualifying Notebook." These provide fans with in‑depth breakdowns of strategy, tyre choices, and driver performance throughout the weekend.
In summary, Brundle's outlook paints a picture of a season still very much in flux. Ferrari's potential step forward, Hamilton's renewed confidence, and the ever‑present possibility of surprise upgrades mean that the Miami Grand Prix could be a pivotal moment in the championship battle.
With both Sprint and Grand Prix points on offer, teams will be eager to extract every ounce of performance from their cars, and fans can expect a thrilling contest that may well reshape the narrative of the 2026 Formula One season.