Charles Leclerc posted the fastest time in the sole practice session for the Miami Grand Prix, showcasing the performance of a heavily upgraded Ferrari. His two quick laps were enough to beat Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by 0.297 seconds, hinting that Mercedes may no longer possess the outright quickest car as the evening Sprint Qualifying approaches at 9:30 pm on Friday, broadcast live on Sky Sports F1.
The practice saw Oscar Piastri in third place, but his McLaren teammate Lando Norris appeared even more competitive. Norris would have been right on Leclerc's heels if not for traffic and a close encounter with Williams driver Alex Albon, which forced him off the optimal racing line. Lewis Hamilton trailed his Ferrari teammate by 0.467 seconds and stayed behind Leclerc for the entirety of the 90‑minute session. This mirrors the pattern observed at the previous race weekend in Japan, where Hamilton also struggled to match the pace of the leading car.
Mercedes entered the weekend riding a three‑race winning streak and an unbeaten record in competitive sessions this year, yet they have introduced the fewest upgrades among the front‑running teams. The Silver Arrows’ only new components are a revised front‑corner assembly and an updated tailpipe, whereas rivals such as McLaren, Red Bull and Ferrari have brought fresh floor designs and other aerodynamic revisions. George Russell posted a time that was roughly eight‑tenths of a second slower than Leclerc, placing him sixth. He was behind rookie Andrea Antonelli, who set his best lap on the hard compound after a power‑unit glitch prevented him from completing a soft‑tyre run.
The same power‑unit issue could become Mercedes’ biggest concern, especially after Russell reported hearing an unusual noise from the turbo that resembled a "steam‑engine" sound. In the Drivers’ Championship, Antonelli currently leads Russell by nine points, but the two Mercedes drivers may find the Miami weekend more challenging than expected. Sky Sports F1 analyst Karun Chandhok questioned Mercedes’ situation, asking whether Russell might be sandbagging or dealing with a set‑up problem, and noting that three other teams appear ready to contest the front of the grid. The five‑week interval since the Japanese Grand Prix gave every team a substantial development window.
All teams except Aston Martin arrived in Miami with upgrades. Ferrari introduced the most changes – eleven new parts – and the results suggest the investment paid off. Leclerc’s blistering pace reflects a car that already excelled in cornering, now further enhanced by a new floor and revised suspension that appear to generate additional downforce.
McLaren also arrived with significant updates, and the team’s progress was evident as they out‑performed Mercedes in Japan. In Miami, Norris shone during practice, raising hopes for a second victory at the circuit where he secured his maiden Grand Prix win earlier in the 2024 season.
Red Bull, while still a second‑place contender, was just over a second off the leading time on average. The team may have narrowed that gap, potentially giving Verstappen a more balanced chassis that can be pushed harder. Ferrari team principal Laurent Mekies told Sky Sports F1 that the practice session was primarily an internal benchmark after a long break and extensive car changes.
He emphasized that the focus was on assessing Ferrari against itself rather than comparing directly with rivals. Mekies added that in China and Japan, various factors had prevented Max Verstappen and his teammate Sergio Perez from extracting maximum performance, and the team is now working to eliminate those hindrances. He hinted that the gap to the competition will be evaluated later, but there are signs that Verstappen now has a car capable of delivering more.
The weekend schedule is packed with supporting events. On Friday, May 1, the day begins with the F2 qualifying session at 7:25 pm, followed by the Team Bosses’ press conference at 8:10 pm, and the Miami GP Sprint Qualifying kickoff at 9:30 pm. Saturday features the F2 sprint race at 2:55 pm, a build‑up show at 4:00 pm, the Sprint itself at 5:00 pm, and a series of analysis programs culminating in the main Grand Prix qualifying at 9:00 pm. Sunday’s agenda includes the F2 feature race at 5:25 pm, a pre‑race build‑up at 7:00 pm, the Grand Prix start at 9:00 pm, and post‑race reaction and recap shows throughout the evening.
All events will be streamed live on Sky Sports F1, with additional access via the NOW platform, which offers a contract‑free, cancel‑anytime option. Fans are encouraged to use the Chrome browser for the most accessible video player experience. Overall, the Miami practice session highlighted a shifting competitive landscape. Ferrari’s aggressive upgrade programme has yielded immediate speed, McLaren appears to be closing the gap on the traditional front‑runners, and Mercedes is confronting technical hiccups that could jeopardise its early‑season dominance.
As the Sprint Qualifying approaches, the battle for pole position promises to be intense, setting the stage for a thrilling Grand Prix weekend in the Sunshine State.