Charles Leclerc posted the fastest time in the sole practice session for the Miami Grand Prix, benefiting from a heavily upgraded Ferrari package while both Mercedes drivers ran into trouble as Formula 1 returned to action. Leclerc managed two laps that were quick enough to leave him ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by 0.297 seconds, suggesting that Mercedes may no longer possess the outright quickest car heading into the sprint‑qualifying session scheduled for 9:30 p.m. on Friday, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri rounded out the top three, but his teammate Lando Norris appeared to be even closer to Leclerc’s pace. Norris was impeded by traffic and a near‑miss with Williams driver Alex Albon, which likely cost him a better lap time. Lewis Hamilton was 0.467 seconds slower than Leclerc and trailed his Ferrari teammate for the entire 90‑minute practice, a pattern that mirrors the final race weekend in Japan at the end of March. Mercedes entered the weekend on the back of three consecutive Grand Prix victories and had remained unbeaten in any competitive session this season.
However, the team has introduced the fewest upgrades among the front‑running constructors. Their only modifications consist of a revised front‑corner assembly and a new rear‑exit pipe, whereas rivals such as McLaren, Red Bull and Ferrari have brought completely new floor designs. George Russell was almost eight‑tenths of a second off the pace in sixth place, sitting behind Italy’s Antonio Alonso Antonelli, who set his best time on the hard tyre compound after a power‑unit fault prevented him from completing a soft‑tyre run.
That power‑unit issue is now the biggest worry for Mercedes, especially after Russell reported hearing an odd, steam‑engine‑like noise coming from the turbocharger earlier in the session. In the Drivers' Championship, Antonelli currently leads Russell by nine points, but the two Mercedes drivers may not be able to execute their preferred strategies in Miami. Sky Sports F1 analyst Karun Chandhok questioned Mercedes' situation, asking, "What have Mercedes got in their pocket?
Has George Russell been sandbagging? Does he have a set‑up problem he's not happy with?" He added that the session’s uncertainty opens the door for three other teams to join the fight for top positions. The five‑week pause since the Japanese Grand Prix gave every team ample time to develop their cars, and all teams except Aston Martin arrived in Miami with new parts.
Ferrari introduced the most upgrades—eleven new components—including a fresh floor and revised suspension that appear to have generated additional downforce. The result was Leclerc’s blistering speed in a car that was already strong in the corners.
McLaren and Red Bull also turned up with effectively brand‑new machines. McLaren had already shown progress over Mercedes in Japan, and Norris’s performance in Friday practice suggested he could be in contention for a second win at the circuit where he claimed his maiden Grand Prix victory earlier in the 2024 season. Red Bull, on average, were just over a second slower than the Ferrari, but they may have narrowed that gap, giving Verstappen a more balanced platform to push harder. Ferrari team principal Laurent Mekies told Sky Sports F1, "Honestly, we only looked at ourselves during that session.
After the long break and with all the major changes to the car, it was crucial to assess ourselves against ourselves. In China and Japan, regardless of where the competition was, there were many factors holding Max and Isaac back, and that’s what we’re trying to fix now.
The gap to the competition will be examined later, but there are clear signs that Max now has a car he can extract more from." The weekend schedule is packed: Friday, May 1, features F2 qualifying at 7:25 p.m., the Team Bosses' press conference at 8:10 p.m., and the Miami GP sprint qualifying beginning at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, May 2, includes the F2 sprint at 2:55 p.m., the sprint build‑up at 4:00 p.m., the Miami GP sprint race at 5:00 p.m., followed by analysis shows and the main qualifying session later in the evening. Sunday, May 3, hosts the F2 feature race at 5:25 p.m., the Grand Prix build‑up at 7:00 p.m., the Miami Grand Prix itself at 9:00 p.m., and post‑race reaction and recap shows throughout the night. All events will be streamed on Sky Sports Main Event and can also be accessed via the NOW platform, which offers a contract‑free, cancel‑anytime option.
Viewers are encouraged to use the Chrome browser for the most accessible video player experience. In summary, Leclerc’s dominant lap times underscore the impact of Ferrari’s extensive upgrade package, while Mercedes appears to be grappling with reliability concerns and a relative lack of aerodynamic development. McLaren and Red Bull have also closed the performance gap, setting the stage for a highly competitive sprint weekend in Miami as the 2026 season moves forward.
Fans can watch the live action on Sky Sports F1 and stream the coverage through NOW, ensuring they don’t miss any of the drama that promises to unfold on the streets of Miami.