Ferrari are poised to be one of the outfits that could make a significant performance jump at the upcoming Miami Grand Prix, as they aim to narrow the gap to Mercedes in what promises to remain a highly unpredictable 2026 season, according to Sky Sports F1 analyst Martin Brundle. Brundle likens the United States round to a "relaunch" of the championship after the sport’s mandatory April hiatus. The break has given every team a rare window of extended development time, allowing engineers to introduce dramatically altered, and hopefully more competitive, machinery.
Such upgrades could reshuffle the hierarchy and create fresh opportunities for teams that have struggled so far. Mercedes, having secured victories in the first three races of the year, enter the Miami event as the clear benchmark. Their drivers, championship leader Kimi Antonelli and teammate George Russell, have demonstrated a dominant package that has left rivals chasing.
Close on Mercedes’ heels are Ferrari and its two-star driver lineup. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton sit just eight points behind the leading duo, occupying third and fourth place in the drivers' standings.
Their recent duels in China and Japan have been thrilling, with wheel‑to‑wheel battles that have kept fans on the edge of their seats. Regarding Hamilton, who finally broke his Grand Prix podium drought for Ferrari at the second round in Shanghai before a more modest sixth‑place finish at Suzuka (where Leclerc claimed third), Brundle told Sky Sports News: "Lewis clearly enjoys these cars much more. Ferrari looks more competitive and I think they will make a big step for Miami." He added that Hamilton’s driving style seems better suited to the current Ferrari platform than to the previous ground‑effect cars, which were notoriously harsh on drivers.
"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. Brundle also noted a change in Hamilton’s demeanor. "But just his mood and the way he's going about it, he just seems a lot happier because Ferrari is more competitive. 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." Both drivers have a point to prove. Hamilton, after leaving Mercedes, hopes to re‑establish himself as a title contender, while Leclerc is eager to end Ferrari’s winless streak that began in October 2024, the last victory being Carlos Sainz’s triumph in Mexico City. The Miami weekend will also feature the season’s second Sprint race.
McLaren have won the Sprint in each of the past two years, yet Mercedes remain favourites given their flawless start to the new 2026 regulations era. Nevertheless, Brundle cautions against drawing premature conclusions.
He believes it is still too early in the development cycle of the new cars for any definitive pecking order to have emerged, especially with 19 races still to contest. "I think it's totally wide open," he said.
"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 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." The schedule for the Miami event is packed. Thursday, April 30, will see a Drivers' Press Conference at 7 pm followed by a Paddock Uncut at 10 pm. Friday, May 1, includes F2 practice at 2.35 pm, the first Miami GP practice session at 4.30 pm, F2 qualifying at 7.25 pm, a Team Bosses' Press Conference at 8.10 pm, and the Sprint Qualifying session beginning at 9.30 pm.
Saturday, May 2, features the F2 Sprint at 2.55 pm, a build‑up to the Miami Sprint at 4 pm, the Sprint itself at 5 pm, Ted’s Sprint Notebook at 6.30 pm, a build‑up to qualifying at 8 pm, the Miami GP Qualifying at 9 pm, and Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 11 pm. Sunday, May 3, rounds off the weekend with the F2 Feature Race at 5.25 pm, a 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 final Notebook at midnight. All sessions will also be available on Sky Sports Main Event.
In summary, the Miami Grand Prix could be a turning point for Ferrari, offering a chance to close the gap to Mercedes and perhaps spark a new championship battle. With the new regulations still being explored, upgrades rolling out, and a full calendar of sprint and race points, the 2026 season remains wide open, and any of the top teams and drivers could emerge as the ultimate champion.