Ferrari is expected to be one of the teams that will make a "big step" forward in performance at the upcoming Miami Grand Prix, according to Sky Sports F1 analyst Martin Brundle. The Italian marque is aiming to narrow the gap to the dominant Mercedes outfit as the 2026 season continues to unfold as a genuinely open contest at the front of the grid. Brundle likens the return of Formula 1 to the United States after the sport’s mandatory April hiatus to a "relaunch" of the championship.
The enforced break has given every team a substantial window of time to develop their cars, which have been dramatically altered under the new regulations. He believes that the work carried out during this period could result in markedly improved machinery and potentially reshuffle the hierarchy that has emerged so far.
Mercedes, having secured victories in the first three rounds of the year, enters the Miami weekend as the clear benchmark. The team’s drivers, Kimi Antonelli, who currently leads the Drivers' Championship, and his teammate George Russell, have demonstrated a level of consistency that makes them the ones to beat. Close behind the Silver Arrows in the standings are Ferrari and its two star drivers, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. The pair sit eight points apart in third and fourth place, respectively, after thrilling wheel‑to‑wheel duels in the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix.
Their rivalry has injected extra drama into the championship, and both drivers are eager to capitalize on any opportunity to close the deficit to Mercedes. Regarding Hamilton, Brundle noted that the former Mercedes driver appears to be enjoying his new environment at Ferrari more than ever. After breaking his podium drought at the second race of the season in Shanghai, Hamilton endured a tougher weekend at Suzuka, finishing sixth while Leclerc claimed third.
Brundle told Sky Sports News, "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 less on the extreme ground‑effect aerodynamics that characterised the previous era. "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 chance of winning races this year, provided he can stay ahead of his teammate.
"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. Both drivers have experienced recent success: Leclerc secured a win earlier in the season, while Ferrari’s last victory dates back to October 2024, when Carlos Sainz triumphed in Mexico City.
The team’s performance has been inconsistent, but the potential for rapid development under the new regulations could see them return to winning form quickly. The Miami Grand Prix will also host the second Sprint weekend of the year.
McLaren has dominated the sprint format at this circuit for the past two seasons, yet Mercedes remains the favourite for the overall weekend, given its flawless start to the new regulatory era in 2026. Brundle cautioned, however, that it is still too early to declare a definitive order.
With nineteen races remaining, the championship is far from settled. "I think it's totally wide open," Brundle asserted. "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. Anybody I would say in the top four teams, any of those eight drivers, could win this year's world championship." The weekend schedule is packed with action. Thursday will feature the Drivers' Press Conference at 7 p.m., followed by the Paddock Uncut at 10 p.m. Friday’s programme includes F2 practice, the first Miami GP practice session, and the qualifying sessions for both F2 and the main Grand Prix, as well as a Team Bosses' Press Conference.
Saturday will see the F2 sprint, the Miami GP sprint, and the sprint qualifying, leading into the main qualifying session later in the evening. Sunday culminates with the F2 feature race, the build‑up to the Grand Prix, the race itself, and post‑race analysis, all broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event and available for streaming via NOW. In summary, Brundle’s outlook paints a picture of a highly competitive 2026 season where Ferrari, bolstered by a potentially significant performance jump, could challenge Mercedes’ early dominance.
Hamilton’s renewed enthusiasm and adaptability to the new car design add another layer of intrigue, while the sprint format in Miami offers extra points that could prove decisive. With multiple teams capable of rapid development and the championship still in its infancy, fans can expect an exhilarating battle for the title as the season progresses.