Martin Brundle, the veteran Sky Sports F1 analyst, believes that Ferrari will be one of the teams poised to make a substantial performance jump at the upcoming Miami Grand Prix. The Italian squad is aiming to narrow the gap to the dominant Mercedes outfit, even though the 2026 season is already shaping up to be a highly competitive affair at the very top of the standings. According to Brundle, the return of Formula 1 to the United States after the mandatory April hiatus will feel like a fresh start for the championship.
The break gave every team an extended window to develop "dramatically changed and, hopefully, improved" cars, and those upgrades could reshuffle the hierarchy once the Miami race kicks off. Brundle likened the event to a "relaunch of the season," emphasizing that the new technical regulations introduced in 2026 are still being explored and refined by the engineers.
Mercedes, having secured victories in the first three rounds of the year, enters the weekend as the clear benchmark. Their drivers, Kimi Antonelli, who currently leads the Drivers' Championship, and his teammate George Russell, have demonstrated a level of consistency that makes the team the one to beat.
However, Ferrari remains the nearest challenger, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton occupying third and fourth places in the drivers' table, just eight points behind the Mercedes duo. Their recent duels in China and Japan have provided fans with thrilling wheel‑to‑wheel action, underscoring how close the battle for podiums has become. When asked about Hamilton's progress since his move to Ferrari, Brundle highlighted the British driver's renewed enthusiasm. Hamilton broke his personal Grand Prix podium drought at the second round in Shanghai, finishing on the podium for Ferrari, but endured a tougher weekend at Suzuka, where he placed sixth while Leclerc claimed third.
Brundle told Sky Sports News that Hamilton "clearly enjoys these cars much more" and that the Ferrari package appears more suited to his driving style than the ground‑effect machines of previous seasons, which he described as "brutal" and not aligned with his preferences. "Ferrari is more competitive and I think again will make a big step for Miami," Brundle said. He added that Hamilton seems noticeably happier behind the wheel, attributing his improved mood to the team's increased competitiveness. "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," Brundle remarked.
The context of these comments is important. Hamilton's last win with Mercedes came in 2024, and Ferrari's own victory drought stretches back to October of that year, when Carlos Sainz claimed a win in Mexico City. The upcoming Miami event marks the second Sprint weekend of the season, a format that has produced surprise results in recent years.
McLaren, for example, has taken victory in each of the past two Sprint races, demonstrating that the new regulations can produce unexpected winners. Nevertheless, Mercedes remains the favorite for the main Grand Prix, given their flawless start to the 2026 era of regulations. Brundle cautioned, however, that it is still too early to declare a definitive hierarchy.
With 19 races still to run, the development race is far from over. "I think it's totally wide open," he said, noting that the Sprint weekend in Miami offers both Sprint points and Grand Prix points, adding layers of strategic opportunity for all teams. He emphasized the fluid nature of the competition: "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. Anybody I would say in the top four teams, any of those eight drivers, could win this year's world championship." This sentiment reflects the broader uncertainty that has come to define the early part of the 2026 season, where aerodynamic and power‑unit innovations are still being tested on track.
The race weekend schedule is packed with supporting events, including Formula 2 practice and sprint sessions, as well as a series of press conferences and analysis shows on Sky Sports. Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via NOW without a long‑term contract. In summary, Brundle's outlook paints a picture of a season still in its infancy, where Ferrari's potential step forward in Miami could reshape the championship battle. Hamilton's renewed confidence and the tight points spread among the top four drivers suggest that the fight for both race wins and the ultimate title will remain intensely contested throughout the remaining races.