Charles Leclerc posted the quickest lap in the sole practice session for the Miami Grand Prix, benefitting from a heavily upgraded Ferrari package while both Mercedes drivers encountered technical setbacks as Formula 1 returned to action. Leclerc managed two laps fast enough to outpace Red Bull's Max Verstappen by just 0.297 seconds, hinting that Mercedes may no longer possess the outright fastest car heading into the sprint qualifying scheduled for 9:30 pm on Friday, a broadcast that will be shown live on Sky Sports F1. McLaren's Oscar Piastri rounded out the top three, but his teammate Lando Norris appeared to be even more competitive.
Norris would likely have been within striking distance of Leclerc if he had not been held up by traffic and a near‑collision with Williams' Alex Albon. Lewis Hamilton trailed Leclerc by 0.467 seconds and remained behind his Ferrari teammate for the entire 90‑minute practice period, echoing the pattern seen at the previous race weekend in Japan at the end of March. Mercedes entered the season with a clean sweep of the first three Grand Prix victories and have been unbeaten in any competitive session so far. Yet, they have introduced the fewest upgrades among the leading teams.
Their only modifications consist of a revised front‑corner assembly and a new rear‑pipe, whereas rivals such as McLaren, Red Bull and Ferrari have fitted completely new floor designs. This disparity raises questions about the Silver Arrows' ability to maintain their early‑season dominance. George Russell posted a best time that left him roughly eight‑tenths of a second off the pace, placing him sixth overall. He was behind Italian rookie Antonio Giovinazzi, who set his quickest lap on the hard tyre compound after a power‑unit issue prevented him from completing a soft‑tyre run.
The same power‑unit problem could become Mercedes' biggest headache, especially after Russell reported hearing an unusual noise from his turbo that resembled a "steam engine". That anomaly suggests a possible reliability concern that may affect the team's performance throughout the weekend. In the championship standings, Giovinazzi currently leads Russell by nine points, but the two Mercedes drivers may find the Miami circuit less forgiving than previous venues. Sky Sports F1 analyst Karun Chandhok asked, "What have Mercedes got in their pocket?
Has George Russell been sandbagging? Does he have a set‑up issue he's not happy with?" These questions underline the uncertainty surrounding the team's preparation and strategy. The five‑week hiatus since the Japanese Grand Prix gave every team ample time to develop their cars.
All teams except Aston Martin arrived in Miami with at least one upgrade package. Ferrari introduced the most extensive set of changes—eleven new components—including a revamped floor and revised suspension geometry that appear to have generated additional downforce. The result was a car that was already strong in the corners becoming even quicker on the straights. McLaren and Red Bull also debuted effectively new cars.
McLaren, having already closed the gap to Mercedes in Japan, saw Norris shine during Friday's practice, fueling hopes of a second victory at the venue where he claimed his maiden Grand Prix win earlier in the 2024 season. Red Bull, while still averaging just over a second off the leading pace, may have narrowed that gap sufficiently to give Verstappen a more balanced platform from which 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, there were many factors limiting Max and Isaac, and we're working to fix those. The gap to the competition will be examined later, but there is a clear sign that Max now has a car he can extract more performance from." The weekend schedule is packed with supporting events. On Friday, May 1, the F2 qualifying session starts at 7:25 pm, followed by the team bosses' press conference at 8:10 pm, and the Miami GP sprint qualifying at 9:30 pm.
Saturday features the F2 sprint at 2:55 pm, the sprint build‑up at 4:00 pm, the Miami GP sprint race at 5:00 pm, and various analysis shows leading up to the main qualifying at 9:00 pm. Sunday concludes with the F2 feature race at 5:25 pm, the Grand Prix build‑up at 7:00 pm, the race itself at 9:00 pm, and post‑race reaction and analysis programmes throughout the evening. Overall, the Miami weekend marks the resumption of the 2026 Formula 1 season with a sprint format.
While Ferrari appears to have found a performance edge through its extensive upgrades, Mercedes must resolve its power‑unit concerns and decide whether its limited aerodynamic tweaks are enough to stay competitive. Fans can watch the action live on Sky Sports F1 and stream the coverage via NOW, with no long‑term contract required. The evolving dynamics among the top teams promise an exciting sprint qualifying and a closely contested Grand Prix on Sunday.