Ferrari are expected to be one of the teams that make a significant performance jump at the upcoming Miami Grand Prix, according to Sky Sports F1 analyst Martin Brundle. The Italian outfit is aiming to narrow the gap to Mercedes, even though the 2026 season is already shaping up to be highly competitive and unpredictable at the front of the grid. Brundle likened the return of Formula 1 to the United States after the sport’s mandatory April hiatus to a "relaunch" of the championship.
He explained that the extended break gave every team a rare window of time to develop their cars, which have been dramatically altered under the new regulations. With these changes, there is a genuine chance that the competitive hierarchy could be reshuffled, allowing teams that were previously mid‑pack to surge forward. Mercedes, having claimed victory in the first three races of the season, enter the Miami weekend as the clear benchmark. Their drivers, Kimi Antonelli, who currently leads the Drivers' Championship, and George Russell, have demonstrated a level of consistency that makes them the team to beat.
However, Ferrari and their two star drivers are not far behind. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton sit just eight points adrift of the leaders, occupying third and fourth places in the championship standings.
Their recent duels in China and Japan have provided fans with thrilling wheel‑to‑wheel action and suggest that the battle for podiums is far from settled. When asked about Lewis Hamilton’s form, Brundle noted that the seven‑time world champion appears to be enjoying his current machinery more than he did with Mercedes.
Hamilton broke his Grand Prix podium drought for Ferrari at the second round in Shanghai, and although he finished sixth at Suzuka while Leclerc took third, Brundle believes the British driver is now more comfortable in a car that suits his driving style. "Ferrari is more competitive now, and I think they will make a big step for Miami," Brundle told Sky Sports News. He added that Hamilton prefers the handling characteristics of the current cars compared with the ground‑effect designs of previous seasons, which he described as "brutal" and not well‑matched to Hamilton’s approach. Brundle also highlighted Hamilton’s mindset, saying the former Mercedes driver seems happier and more confident because Ferrari is finally delivering a car that can challenge for wins.
"He has to beat Charles Leclerc if he wants to win the world championship, whether it’s with Ferrari or any other team," Brundle said. "If there’s even a hint of a victory, Lewis is still very much capable of taking it." The context of these comments is important. Hamilton, while still at Mercedes, and Leclerc both secured race wins in 2024, but Ferrari’s overall victory drought stretches back to October 2024, when Carlos Sainz won the Mexican Grand Prix.
That long spell without a win has added pressure on the Scuderia to deliver a breakthrough performance. The Miami Grand Prix will also host the second Sprint weekend of the season.
Historically, McLaren have dominated the sprint races there over the past two years, but Mercedes remain the favourites given their flawless start to the new‑era regulations introduced in 2026. Brundle cautioned, however, that it is still too early in the development cycle for any team to claim a definitive advantage. With nineteen races still to run, the championship landscape is fluid, and the new cars still have considerable upside potential. "I think it’s totally wide open," Brundle affirmed.
"We have a Sprint weekend in Miami, so there are Sprint points to be won and 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. Anyone in the top four teams, any of those eight drivers, could win this year's world championship." The weekend schedule is packed with action.
On Thursday, April 30, the drivers will take part in a press conference at 7 p.m., followed by a paddock uncut session at 10 p.m. Friday, May 1, will see F2 practice at 2.35 p.m., the first Miami GP practice session at 4.30 p.m., and F2 qualifying at 7.25 p.m. The team bosses’ press conference is set for 8.10 p.m., with the Sprint qualifying session beginning at 9.30 p.m.
Saturday, May 2, features the F2 sprint race at 2.55 p.m., a build‑up to the Miami GP Sprint at 5 p.m., and the sprint itself at 6.30 p.m. Later in the evening, Ted’s Sprint Notebook will provide analysis, and the qualifying sessions for the main Grand Prix will start at 9 p.m., culminating in the qualifying notebook at 11 p.m. Sunday, May 3, will host the F2 feature race at 5.25 p.m., a pre‑Grand Prix build‑up at 7 p.m., and the Miami Grand Prix itself beginning at 9 p.m.
Post‑race coverage, including the chequered‑flag reaction and Ted’s Notebook, will continue into the early hours of Monday. All of this will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via NOW for viewers who prefer to watch without a contract.
The Miami Grand Prix represents a pivotal moment in a season that, according to Brundle, remains wide open and full of possibilities for any of the leading teams and drivers to seize the championship.