Ferrari are expected to be one of the squads that make a significant 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 front of the grid.
Brundle likens the United States round to a "re‑launch" of the championship after the mandatory April hiatus. He notes that the break gave every team a rare window of time to develop their cars, which have undergone dramatic changes under the new technical regulations. Those improvements could reshuffle the hierarchy, potentially allowing Ferrari to close in on the leaders. Mercedes have emerged from the opening trio of races as the benchmark to beat, having secured victories in all three events.
Their drivers, Kimi Antonelli, who currently tops the Drivers' Championship, and his teammate George Russell, have been consistently strong, reinforcing Mercedes' status as the team to chase. Close behind are Ferrari and their two star drivers, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, who sit eight points apart in third and fourth place respectively. Their recent duels in China and Japan have been thrilling, with wheel‑to‑wheel battles that have delighted fans and underscored the competitive balance between the two teams.
Regarding Hamilton, Brundle told Sky Sports News that the former Mercedes driver appears to be enjoying his return to Ferrari more than ever. After breaking his Grand Prix podium drought in Shanghai, Hamilton struggled at Suzuka, finishing sixth while Leclerc claimed third.
Brundle observed, "Lewis clearly enjoys these cars much more. Ferrari is more competitive and I think again will make a big step for Miami." He added that Hamilton's driving style seems better suited to the current generation of cars, which lack the aggressive ground‑effect aerodynamics that characterised earlier seasons. "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 explained.
The analyst believes Hamilton's mood has improved, noting that the driver looks happier because the Ferrari is finally able to challenge at the front. Brundle stressed that Hamilton still needs to out‑perform his teammate Leclerc if he hopes to claim the world title. "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 said. Both drivers have a history of recent success: Hamilton, during his Mercedes tenure, and Leclerc, who last won a race in 2024, are eager to add to their tallies. Ferrari's own winless streak stretched back to October 2024, when Carlos Sainz triumphed in Mexico City, making the upcoming race a crucial opportunity to break that drought.
The Miami event will also host the season's second Sprint weekend. While McLaren have won the Sprint race at this venue for the past two years, Mercedes remain the favourites, having won every race since the introduction of the 2026 regulations.
Nevertheless, Brundle cautions that it is still early days for the new rulebook, and the ultimate order of finish may not be settled for many races to come. "I think it's totally wide open," Brundle asserted. "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. 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 Grand Prix weekend is packed with action. Thursday will feature the Drivers' Press Conference at 7 p.m., followed by the Paddock Uncut at 10 p.m.
On Friday, F2 practice begins at 2.35 p.m., with the main Grand Prix practice session kicking off at 4.30 p.m. The day continues with F2 qualifying, a Team Bosses' Press Conference, and the Sprint Qualifying session. Saturday's agenda includes the F2 Sprint, a build‑up to the Miami Sprint race, and the Sprint itself, followed by post‑race analysis and a Qualifying build‑up leading to the official Grand Prix qualifying session. Sunday culminates with the F2 Feature Race, a build‑up to the Grand Prix, the Miami Grand Prix itself, and a series of reaction and recap shows throughout the evening.
All of these sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via NOW without a long‑term contract. Fans are encouraged to follow Sky Sports on WhatsApp for the latest news, videos, and expert analysis. In summary, Brundle expects Ferrari to make a noticeable step forward in Miami, while acknowledging that the season remains highly fluid.
With a mix of sprint and race points on offer, and with the potential for rapid development across all teams, the championship battle could see any of the top four squads and their eight drivers mount a serious challenge for the title as the season progresses.