Ferrari are expected to be one of the squads that make a substantial performance jump at the upcoming Miami Grand Prix, according to Sky Sports F1 analyst Martin Brundle. The Italian team is aiming to narrow the gap to the dominant Mercedes outfit, even though the 2026 season is already shaping up to be highly unpredictable at the top of the standings. Brundle likened the return of Formula One to the United States after the mandatory April hiatus to a "relaunch" of the campaign.
He pointed out that the enforced break gave every team a rare window of uninterrupted development time, allowing engineers to overhaul their machines, introduce dramatically altered concepts and, ideally, produce faster, more reliable cars. Such extensive work could reshuffle the hierarchy, especially as the new regulations continue to evolve. Mercedes, having secured victory in each of the three races held so far, enter the Miami weekend as the clear benchmark.
Their drivers, championship leader Kimi Antonelli and his teammate George Russell, have demonstrated a seamless blend of speed and consistency that makes the Silver Arrows the team to beat. Close on Mercedes' heels are Ferrari and their two-star driver lineup.
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton sit just eight points behind the Mercedes pair in the drivers' championship, occupying third and fourth places respectively. Their recent duels in China and Japan have provided fans with thrilling wheel‑to‑wheel action, underscoring how tightly contested the title race has become. When asked about Hamilton's recent form, Brundle noted that the former Mercedes driver finally broke his podium drought for Ferrari at the second round in Shanghai, before encountering a tougher race 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's driving style appears better suited to the current generation of cars, which rely less on the extreme ground‑effect aerodynamics that characterized earlier seasons. "Those old ground‑effect cars were brutal and didn't really suit his style," he explained.
"Now the car feels more balanced, and you can see Lewis is in a better mood, more relaxed, because Ferrari is finally giving him a fighting chance." The former Mercedes star still has a clear target: he must out‑pace his teammate Charles Leclerc if he hopes to clinch the world title. "He has to beat Charles to win the championship," Brundle said.
"If there’s even a hint of a victory, Lewis is still very much capable of taking it." Both drivers have tasted victory this year—Leclerc secured a win for Ferrari, while Hamilton’s last win came back when he was still with Mercedes. Ferrari, meanwhile, have endured a winless spell since Carlos Sainz's triumph in Mexico City in October 2023, making the upcoming race a crucial opportunity to end that drought. The Miami Grand Prix will also host the season's second sprint weekend.
Historically, McLaren have dominated the sprint format at this circuit over the past two years, but Mercedes remain the favourites given their flawless start to the new‑era regulations introduced in 2026. Despite Mercedes' early success, Brundle cautioned that it is still too early in the development cycle to declare a definitive hierarchy.
With nineteen races still on the calendar, there is ample room for teams to leapfrog each other through upgrades and strategic innovations. "I think it's totally wide open," he affirmed.
"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." He went on to suggest that any of the eight drivers representing the top four teams could realistically capture the world championship by season's end.
The combination of new technical directions, mid‑season upgrades and the unpredictable nature of sprint races means the championship battle will likely remain fluid until the final rounds. The official schedule for the Miami weekend is packed with action: a drivers' press conference on Thursday evening, followed by F2 practice sessions and the main Grand Prix practice on Friday.
Saturday will see the F2 sprint, the Miami sprint race itself, and the sprint qualifying session. Sunday concludes with the F2 feature race, the Grand Prix build‑up, the main race, and post‑race analysis.
All events will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via NOW for viewers without a traditional contract. In summary, Brundle's outlook paints a picture of a season still very much in flux.
Ferrari's potential performance leap, Hamilton's renewed confidence, and the ever‑present chance for surprise upgrades mean that fans can expect a fiercely contested battle for both sprint and Grand Prix points in Miami and beyond. The race will serve as an early indicator of which teams can adapt quickly to the new regulations and which will need to dig deeper as the championship unfolds.