Martin Brundle, the veteran Sky Sports F1 analyst, believes that the upcoming Miami Grand Prix could serve as a pivotal moment for Ferrari, offering the Italian squad a chance to close the gap to the dominant Mercedes team. Brundle described the return to racing in the United States as a sort of "re‑launch" for the 2026 season, after the sport’s enforced April hiatus gave every team a rare window of time to develop their radically altered cars. He suggested that these extensive development periods could lead to a reshuffling of the competitive hierarchy, with Ferrari potentially making a "big step" forward in Miami.
Mercedes has established itself as the benchmark this year, having secured victories in all three races that have taken place so far. Their drivers, Kimi Antonelli, who currently leads the Drivers' Championship, and his teammate George Russell, have been the standard‑bearers for the team. Ferrari, however, sit closest to the British outfit in the standings, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton occupying third and fourth places respectively, just eight points behind the leaders. The two have already provided fans with thrilling wheel‑to‑wheel duels in China and Japan, underscoring the intensity of the intra‑team rivalry.
When asked about Hamilton’s recent form, Brundle noted that the former Mercedes driver appears to be enjoying his time in the red car more than ever. Hamilton broke his personal podium drought at the second round of the season in Shanghai, securing a podium for Ferrari, before encountering a tougher weekend at Suzuka where he finished sixth while Leclerc claimed third.
Brundle told Sky Sports News, "Lewis clearly enjoys these cars much more. Ferrari is more competitive and I think again will make a big step for Miami." He went on to explain that Hamilton’s driving style seems better suited to the current generation of cars, which lack the aggressive ground‑effect aerodynamics that characterized earlier eras.
"Lewis obviously prefers this type of car to the seasons we had with the ground‑effect cars that were smashing against the ground and were quite brutal things, it didn't seem to suit his style," Brundle said. The commentator added that Hamilton’s mood has noticeably improved, noting that the British driver appears "a lot happier because Ferrari is more competitive." Brundle emphasized that Hamilton still has a realistic chance of taking a victory, provided he can stay ahead of his teammate Leclerc. "He's got to beat Charles Leclerc if he's going to win the world championship in the other Ferrari, and others.
Let's see if he can sustain that. If there's a sniff of a victory, I think Lewis is still very much capable of taking that," he asserted. The broader context of the season is also worth noting. Ferrari’s last race win came in 2024, when Carlos Sainz triumphed in Mexico City, and the team has been enduring a drought since October of that year.
Meanwhile, the Miami Grand Prix marks the second Sprint weekend of the year, a format that McLaren has dominated for the past two seasons. Despite McLaren’s recent Sprint success, Mercedes remains the favourite for the overall weekend, having won every race since the introduction of the new 2026 regulations.
Brundle cautioned against drawing premature conclusions about the pecking order, given that the 2026 rulebook is still in its infancy and teams are continually introducing upgrades. "I think it's totally wide open," he said, highlighting the fluid nature of the championship at this stage. "We have got a Sprint weekend in Miami, so there are Sprint points to be won, Grand Prix points to be won. This is going to ebb and flow.
I see teams leapfrogging others with some upgrades because there is so much upside potential with these cars." He further suggested that any of the eight drivers representing the top four teams could realistically contend for the world title, underscoring the unpredictable nature of the season. The schedule for the Miami weekend is packed, featuring practice sessions, qualifying, Sprint races, and the main Grand Prix, all broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 and available for streaming via NOW. In summary, Brundle’s outlook paints a picture of a season still very much in flux.
Ferrari appears poised to make a significant performance jump in Miami, potentially narrowing the gap to Mercedes. Meanwhile, Hamilton’s renewed confidence and affinity for the current car design could see him back on the top step of the podium, provided he can out‑pace Leclerc.
With 19 races remaining and a multitude of upgrade paths still to be explored, the 2026 Formula One campaign promises to remain a captivating and open‑ended battle for supremacy.