Charles Leclerc posted the fastest lap in the sole practice session for the Miami Grand Prix, showcasing the benefits of a heavily upgraded Ferrari package while both Mercedes drivers encountered technical hiccups as Formula 1 returned to action. Leclerc managed two blistering laps that were 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 session scheduled for 9:30 pm on Friday, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri rounded out the top three, but his teammate Lando Norris appeared to have an even stronger pace. Norris would likely have been right on Leclerc’s heels if not for traffic and a close call with Williams driver Alex Albon, which forced him to lift off the accelerator briefly. Lewis Hamilton was 0.467 seconds slower than Leclerc and remained behind his Ferrari teammate for the entire 90‑minute practice window, echoing the pattern seen at the previous race weekend in Japan at the end of March.
Mercedes have enjoyed a flawless start to the 2026 campaign, winning the first three Grands Prix and remaining unbeaten in every competitive session so far. However, their development rate has been modest compared with the other front‑running teams. The Silver Arrows entered Miami with only a revised front‑corner assembly and a new exhaust tailpipe, whereas McLaren, Red Bull and Ferrari all arrived with brand‑new floor sections and a host of additional aerodynamic and mechanical upgrades.
George Russell’s best time placed him sixth on the board, roughly eight‑tenths of a second off the leader. He was ahead of the Italian rookie Andrea Antonelli, who posted his quickest lap on the hard compound after a power‑unit fault prevented him from completing a soft‑tyre run. The power‑unit issue is a growing concern for Mercedes, especially after Russell reported an odd, steam‑engine‑like noise emanating from the turbocharger earlier in the session. Such anomalies could hint at deeper reliability problems that may affect the team’s performance over the weekend.
Antonelli currently leads Russell by nine points in the Drivers’ Championship, but the two Mercedes drivers may find the Miami circuit less forgiving than the streets of Japan. Sky Sports F1 analyst Karun Chandhok questioned Mercedes’ weekend strategy, asking, “What have they got in their pocket? Has Russell been sandbagging, or is there a set‑up problem he’s not happy with?” He added that the session’s results have opened the door for three other teams to join the fight for podium positions. The five‑week hiatus since the Japanese round gave every team ample time to develop new parts.
All teams except Aston Martin brought upgrades to Miami. Ferrari introduced the most extensive package, with eleven new components, and the results were evident in Leclerc’s pace.
The new floor and revised suspension appear to have generated additional downforce, improving cornering speed and overall stability. McLaren and Red Bull also arrived with effectively fresh cars, each benefitting from substantial aerodynamic revisions that have narrowed the performance gap. McLaren’s progress over Mercedes was already apparent in Japan, and Norris’s strong showing in Miami practice suggests he could be a serious contender for a second victory at the track where he secured his maiden Grand Prix win earlier in the 2024 season. Red Bull, while still about a second off the leading time on average, may have reduced that deficit enough to give Verstappen a more balanced chassis that can be pushed harder in the sprint and the main race.
Ferrari team principal Laurent Mekies told Sky Sports F1, “We focused solely on ourselves during the session. After a long break and with so many major changes to the car, it was crucial to assess our own performance first. In China and Japan, there were many factors limiting Max and Isaac, and we are working to eliminate those.
The gap to the competition will be examined later, but we see signs that Max now has a car he can extract more from.” The weekend schedule is packed with support races and broadcast events. On Friday, May 1, the F2 qualifying session starts 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 at 2:55 pm, a build‑up show at 4:00 pm, the sprint race at 5:00 pm, and a series of analysis podcasts throughout the evening, culminating in the main Grand Prix qualifying at 9:00 pm. Sunday, May 3, includes the F2 feature race at 5:25 pm, pre‑race build‑up at 7:00 pm, the Grand Prix start at 9:00 pm, and post‑race reaction shows into the early hours of Monday.
All of these events will be streamed live on Sky Sports F1, with additional access via the NOW platform, which offers a contract‑free, cancel‑anytime subscription. Fans are encouraged to use the Chrome browser for the most accessible video player experience.
In summary, Leclerc’s dominant practice performance highlights Ferrari’s successful upgrade strategy, while Mercedes must address a concerning turbo noise and a limited upgrade list that could compromise their early‑season momentum. With McLaren and Red Bull also showing strong form, the Miami sprint weekend promises a tightly contested battle across the grid, setting the stage for an exciting continuation of the 2026 Formula 1 season.