Ferrari are expected to be one of the teams that make a substantial performance jump at the upcoming Miami Grand Prix, according to Sky Sports F1 analyst Martin Brundle. The Italian squad is aiming to narrow the gap to Mercedes, even though the 2026 season is already shaping up to be a highly competitive, open‑ended battle for the top positions. Brundle likened the return to racing in the United States to a kind of "season relaunch" after the mandatory April hiatus.
He explained that the break gave every team a rare window to tinker with their machinery, resulting in cars that are dramatically altered and, hopefully, markedly improved. Those upgrades could reshuffle the hierarchy, giving traditional front‑runners a chance to be overtaken by surprise challengers. Mercedes, having secured victories in the first three rounds of the championship, enter the Miami weekend as the clear benchmark. Their drivers, Kimi Antonelli – who currently leads the Drivers' Championship – and George Russell are the ones to beat, having demonstrated a blend of speed and consistency that has left rivals scrambling.
Close behind the dominant German outfit are Ferrari and its two star drivers, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. The duo sit eight points apart in the third and fourth spots of the championship standings, having produced thrilling wheel‑to‑wheel duels in both the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix.
Their performances have kept the title race lively and have shown that Ferrari can still challenge the status quo. When asked about Hamilton's recent form, Brundle noted that the British driver finally broke his Grand Prix podium drought at the second race of the season in Shanghai, before enduring a tougher weekend at Suzuka where he finished sixth while Leclerc claimed third. "Lewis clearly enjoys these cars much more now," Brundle told Sky Sports News.
"Ferrari is more competitive and I think they will make a big step for Miami." Brundle added that Hamilton seems to thrive in a car that relies more on aerodynamic grip than on the ground‑effect technology that defined the previous era. "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," he said.
"But just his mood and the way he's going about it, he just seems a lot happier because Ferrari is more competitive." The commentator stressed that Hamilton still needs to out‑perform his teammate Leclerc if he hopes to clinch the world title, especially now that Ferrari appears to have closed the performance gap with Mercedes. "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," Brundle asserted.
Both drivers have experienced a winless stretch in 2024, with Ferrari's last triumph dating back to October of that year when Carlos Sainz won the Mexican Grand Prix. The upcoming Miami event, therefore, represents a crucial opportunity for the Scuderia to end its drought and re‑establish itself as a genuine title contender. The Miami Grand Prix also marks the second Sprint weekend of the season, a format that McLaren has dominated over the past two years.
Nevertheless, Mercedes remain the favourites, having won every race since the introduction of the new 2026 regulations. Brundle cautioned, however, that it is still early days in the development of these new cars, and the final pecking order has yet to solidify with 19 races still to run.
"I think it's totally wide open," Brundle said. "We have 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.
Anybody I would say in the top four teams, any of those eight drivers, could win this year's world championship." The schedule for the Miami weekend is packed with action. On Thursday, April 30, the drivers' press conference will kick off at 7 p.m., followed by the paddock uncut at 10 p.m. Friday, May 1, features F2 practice at 2.35 p.m., the first Miami GP practice session at 4.30 p.m., and the sprint qualifying later in the evening.
Saturday, May 2, includes the F2 sprint, the Miami sprint race, and the sprint qualifying build‑up, culminating in the main Grand Prix qualifying session. Sunday, May 3, will host the F2 feature race, the build‑up to the Grand Prix, the race itself, and post‑race analysis. All of this will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available through the NOW platform.
Fans are encouraged to follow Sky Sports on WhatsApp for real‑time updates, video highlights, and expert analysis throughout the weekend. In summary, Brundle's outlook suggests that while Mercedes currently hold the advantage, the combination of new car developments, the unique demands of the Miami circuit, and the added sprint format could see Ferrari, Hamilton, or even other contenders make a decisive move.
The race promises to be a pivotal moment in a season that, according to Brundle, remains "totally wide open" with plenty of opportunities for surprise victories and shifting fortunes.