Ferrari is poised to be one of the squads that could make a substantial performance jump at the upcoming Miami Grand Prix, as they aim to narrow the margin to Mercedes in what promises to remain a highly unpredictable 2026 season, according to Sky Sports F1 analyst Martin Brundle. Brundle highlighted that the return of Formula 1 to the United States will feel like a fresh start to the championship after the mandatory April hiatus. The break gave every team extra time to develop their cars, which have undergone dramatic changes under the new regulations.
He suggested that the improvements could be significant enough to reshuffle the hierarchy, with some teams potentially leaping ahead of others. Mercedes, having secured victories in the first three races of the year, will head back to the grid as the clear benchmark. Their drivers, Kimi Antonelli, who currently leads the Drivers' Championship, and his teammate George Russell, have demonstrated a dominant package that other teams will be eager to match.
Close behind the Silver Arrows in the standings are Ferrari and its two star drivers, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. The Italian outfit sits just eight points off Mercedes, with Leclerc and Hamilton occupying third and fourth places respectively. Their recent battles in China and Japan have been thrilling, featuring intense wheel‑to‑wheel duels that have kept fans on the edge of their seats. Regarding Hamilton, Brundle noted that the former Mercedes champion finally broke his podium drought for Ferrari at the second round in Shanghai, before facing a tougher weekend at Suzuka where he finished sixth while Leclerc claimed third.
"Lewis clearly enjoys these cars much more now," Brundle told Sky Sports News. "Ferrari is more competitive, and I think they will make a big step for Miami." Brundle explained that Hamilton’s driving style seems better suited to the current generation of cars, which rely less on the ground‑effect aerodynamics that dominated earlier seasons. "Lewis obviously prefers this type of car to the brutal ground‑effect machines we had before; they didn’t really suit his style," Brundle said.
He added that Hamilton appears happier and more motivated, noting the psychological boost that comes from driving a more competitive car. The former Mercedes driver, however, still faces a significant challenge: he must out‑perform his own teammate, Charles Leclerc, if he hopes to clinch the world title. "He’s got to beat Charles Leclerc if he’s going to win the championship," Brundle remarked.
"If there’s even a hint of a victory, I think Lewis is still very much capable of taking that." Ferrari’s recent form has been mixed. While Leclerc secured a win earlier in the season, the team’s last victory dates back to October 2024, when Carlos Sainz triumphed in Mexico City.
Since then, Ferrari has endured a winless stretch, adding pressure on both drivers to deliver results. The Miami Grand Prix will also feature the second Sprint weekend of the year, a format that has added extra excitement to the calendar.
McLaren has won the Sprint race in each of the past two seasons, but Mercedes remains the favourite given their flawless start to the new‑regulation era in 2026. Nonetheless, Brundle cautioned that it is still too early to declare a definitive pecking order, with 19 races still to run and plenty of development work ahead.
"I think it’s totally wide open," Brundle 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 each other with upgrades because there is so much upside potential with these cars.
Any of 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 feature a Drivers' Press Conference at 7 pm, followed by a Paddock Uncut session at 10 pm.
Friday, May 1, includes F2 practice at 2.35 pm, the first Miami GP practice at 4.30 pm, F2 qualifying at 7.25 pm, a Team Bosses' Press Conference at 8.10 pm, and the Sprint Qualifying session at 8.40 pm. Saturday, May 2, will see the F2 Sprint at 2.55 pm, a build‑up to the Miami Sprint at 4 pm, the Sprint race itself at 5 pm, and various analysis programmes such as Ted’s Sprint Notebook at 6.30 pm, followed by the qualifying build‑up at 8 pm, the qualifying session at 9 pm, and Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 11 pm. Sunday, May 3, rounds out the weekend with the F2 Feature Race at 5.25 pm, a Grand Prix build‑up at 7 pm, the main race at 9 pm, a post‑race reaction segment at 11 pm, and Ted’s final Notebook at midnight. All of these events will also be available on Sky Sports Main Event.
Overall, the Miami Grand Prix promises to be a pivotal moment in a season that still feels very much up for grabs. With Ferrari aiming to close the gap to Mercedes, Hamilton looking to capitalize on his newfound comfort in the Ferrari, and several teams still exploring the full potential of the 2026 regulations, fans can expect a weekend filled with strategic intrigue, on‑track battles, and perhaps a few surprise results that could reshape the championship narrative. For those wanting to stay up‑to‑date, Sky Sports offers a dedicated WhatsApp channel delivering the latest news, videos, features, and analysis. The race will be streamed live on Sky Sports F1, and viewers can also watch via the NOW platform without a long‑term contract, allowing them to cancel at any time if they wish.