Charles Leclerc posted the fastest time in the sole practice session for the Miami Grand Prix, benefitting from a heavily upgraded Ferrari package while both Mercedes drivers encountered technical difficulties on Formula 1's comeback weekend. Leclerc managed two laps that were quick enough to leave Red Bull's Max Verstappen trailing by 0.297 seconds, suggesting that Mercedes may no longer hold the outright pace heading into the Sprint Qualifying scheduled for 9:30 pm on Friday, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. McLaren's Oscar Piastri secured third place, but his teammate Lando Norris appeared even more competitive.
Norris would likely have been within striking distance of Leclerc if not for traffic and a near‑collision with Williams' Alex Albon, which forced him off an optimal line. Lewis Hamilton finished 0.467 seconds behind Leclerc, remaining consistently behind his Ferrari teammate throughout the 90‑minute session—a pattern that mirrors the previous race weekend in Japan at the end of March. Mercedes entered the season with a perfect record, winning the first three Grands Prix and remaining unbeaten in all competitive sessions so far. 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 fresh floor designs and additional aerodynamic elements. George Russell posted a time that was roughly eight‑tenths of a second slower than Leclerc, placing him sixth. He was behind Italian rookie Andrea Antonelli, who set his best lap on the hard compound after a power‑unit issue prevented him from completing a run on the softer tyre.
That power‑unit glitch is now Mercedes' biggest worry, especially after Russell reported hearing an odd, steam‑engine‑like noise emanating from his turbo during the session. In the Drivers' Championship, Antonelli currently leads Russell by nine points, but the two Mercedes drivers may find their weekend in Miami more challenging than anticipated.
Sky Sports F1 analyst Karun Chandhok questioned Mercedes' strategy, asking, "What have they got in the bag? Has Russell been sandbagging or is there a setup problem he’s unhappy with?" He added that the session revealed three other teams—Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull—joining the fight for top pace. The five‑week interval since the Japanese round gave every team ample time to develop their cars.
All teams except Aston Martin arrived in Miami with upgrades. Ferrari introduced the most changes, unveiling eleven new components.
The new floor and revised suspension appear to have generated additional downforce, enhancing a car that was already strong in the corners. McLaren and Red Bull also arrived with effectively fresh packages, narrowing the performance gap to the front‑runners.
McLaren's progress was evident in Japan, where they had already begun to out‑perform Mercedes. In Miami, Norris shone during practice and will be eager to claim a second victory at the circuit where he celebrated his maiden Grand Prix win earlier in the 2024 season. Red Bull, while still about a second off the leading pace on average, may have reduced that deficit, giving Verstappen a more balanced car that can be pushed harder.
Ferrari team principal Laurent Mekies told Sky Sports F1, "We focused almost entirely on ourselves during the session. After a long break and with all the major updates we introduced, it was crucial to evaluate our own performance first and foremost." He continued, "In China and Japan, various factors limited Max and Isaac, and we are working to eliminate those. 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 with supporting events. On Friday, May 1, the F2 qualifying session begins 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 race at 2:55 pm, the Sprint build‑up at 4:00 pm, the actual Sprint at 5:00 pm, and a series of pre‑qualifying shows culminating in the main Grand Prix 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 Miami Grand Prix itself at 9:00 pm, and post‑race analysis throughout the evening. For fans wishing to watch live, Sky Sports F1 will carry the entire weekend, and the races can be streamed via the NOW platform without a long‑term contract.
The Miami sprint weekend marks the resumption of the 2026 season, and the upgraded Ferrari performance, combined with Mercedes' technical hiccups, sets the stage for an unpredictable and exciting showdown among the sport's top teams.