The goal for Ferrari over the Miami weekend, which represents the fourth round of the 2026 Formula 1 season and the second Sprint-format event of the year, was to maximise every possible opportunity available across the sessions. In modern Formula 1, especially under the Sprint weekend structure, every detail becomes crucial, from tyre preparation to grid positioning. Unfortunately for the Ferrari, that objective was not fully achieved, as a combination of several factors ultimately prevented the team from unlocking a higher level of competitiveness that is still present within the car but has not yet been fully extracted in race conditions. However, there is a clear understanding within the team that things can still change depending on fuel load, tyre phase, and operational execution, as the Ferrari car appears significantly more comfortable and stable in certain configurations, particularly with higher fuel loads. Another important aspect not to overlook is the team’s consistently strong race starts, which remain one of their more competitive strengths across different circuits and conditions. Here is a detailed breakdown of what happened during the Sprint Race in Miami.
Ferrari starts strong with Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton struggles
Now let’s take a detailed look at how events unfolded for the Maranello team’s drivers on Saturday afternoon:
The grid lines up for the final preparations before the Sprint Race start procedure. Both Ferrari drivers, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, are positioned on the grid and exchanging final technical information with their respective race engineers while waiting for the official signal to begin the formation lap. As soon as the formation lap begins, both Ferrari drivers focus heavily on tyre preparation, which is a critical factor in Miami’s hot and abrasive track conditions. Special attention is given to the front axle, which tends to cool down significantly during long high-speed sections around the Miami International Autodrome, potentially affecting initial grip levels at the start.
The cars eventually take their positions on the grid based on the qualifying results, and tension builds throughout the entire starting grid as the second Sprint Race of the 2026 Formula 1 season is about to get underway. Charles Leclerc gets an excellent launch off the line, immediately taking advantage of a poor clutch release from Kimi Antonelli, which allows the Monegasque driver to gain a position right away and move up into third place within the opening moments of the race. In contrast, Lewis Hamilton does not get the same level of performance at the start, losing a position to Max Verstappen at first, before managing to recover that position within the same lap through strong racecraft and positioning.
There is also a minor contact between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen during the early phase of the Sprint, although fortunately for both drivers and both teams, it does not result in any damage or performance loss. The Briton requests a check on his front wing through team radio, and the Ferrari engineers confirm via onboard sensors and telemetry data that there is no structural damage to the aerodynamic components. By lap three, Lewis Hamilton finds himself running in the slipstream of both Mercedes cars, while simultaneously being placed under significant pressure from behind by Max Verstappen in the Red Bull, creating a tightly packed and highly competitive battle group in the midfield and upper midfield region.
Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc attempts to stay within striking distance of the two McLaren cars ahead, although at this stage of the race they have managed to open a small but noticeable gap over the Ferrari. The overall race pace of Ferrari appears solid and even slightly stronger than Mercedes in certain phases, particularly in medium-speed corners and traction zones. However, the McLaren MCL40 cars demonstrate extremely strong straight-line performance and efficient energy deployment, which allows them to maintain consistent lap-time advantages. At the same time, constant radio communication is being delivered to both Ferrari drivers regarding tyre management, as the team emphasizes the importance of avoiding excessive tyre degradation during the opening laps of the Sprint.
Charles Leclerc unable to attack the two McLaren cars
Over team radio, Ferrari race engineer Bryan Bozzi continues to reinforce lift and coast instructions to Charles Leclerc, particularly in braking zones where energy management is crucial for the overall race strategy. After completing a strong and controlled initial phase on medium compound tyres, the Monegasque begins to attempt closing the gap to the leading McLaren of Oscar Piastri, while also monitoring tyre temperatures and degradation levels carefully.
Behind him, an intense and highly competitive battle unfolds between the two Mercedes drivers, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, which also directly involves Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. Verstappen manages to overtake the Briton at one point, although Hamilton is briefly held up by Antonelli during the sequence. The move by Verstappen appears to have been completed close to or slightly beyond track limits, leading to further scrutiny. As a result, the Dutchman is instructed to give the position back to Hamilton shortly after in order to avoid a potential time penalty from race control.
However, the situation remains highly dynamic, as Max Verstappen quickly retakes the position again, this time ensuring the move is completed within the track limits and in full compliance with regulations. At the same time, Kimi Antonelli also manages to move ahead of his Mercedes teammate George Russell, as the internal team battle between the two Mercedes cars intensifies. Overall, the four-car fight involving Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari creates one of the most closely contested battles on track during the Sprint Race. In contrast, Charles Leclerc is unable to significantly reduce the gap to the two McLaren cars, despite showing consistent lap times.
The Monegasque driver is convinced that his race pace is stronger than what is currently visible in the data, but after 11 laps—approximately halfway through the Sprint Race distance—it becomes increasingly clear that this initial assumption may not fully reflect the reality of the situation. A couple of laps later, Charles Leclerc is able to close the gap slightly and begins to consider a potential overtaking opportunity using the DRS zone and hybrid energy deployment. However, he loses valuable time on the straights, something he later confirms over team radio while speaking with his race engineer. This lack of straight-line performance prevents him from getting close enough to attempt a realistic overtaking move.
Even though Leclerc is able to deploy additional hybrid energy from the power unit system, the Mercedes-powered McLaren package still holds a clear advantage in terms of straight-line speed and overall efficiency. This allows Oscar Piastri to maintain a safe and controlled gap ahead of the Ferrari. On a more positive note for Ferrari, both Mercedes cars are running almost four seconds behind Charles Leclerc at this stage, which is considered a notable improvement compared to the early races of the 2026 Formula 1 season, where Mercedes had shown a significantly stronger advantage over Ferrari in the opening three Grands Prix.
Ferrari pays the price for Mercedes straight-line speed in Miami
When there are just over four laps remaining in the 100-kilometre Sprint Race distance, Ferrari race engineer Bryan Bozzi suggests over team radio that Charles Leclerc should make greater use of slipstreaming opportunities wherever possible, particularly on the long straights of the Miami circuit. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton continues to struggle significantly in the final stages of the race, no longer able to challenge Max Verstappen for sixth position. His rear tyres are overheating, and he repeatedly reports a noticeable lack of grip over team radio, which prevents him from extracting the performance he needs from the car.
It is important to highlight that in modern Formula 1, and especially in Sprint races, starting position and early track position make a major difference in the final outcome. The pace of Ferrari car number 16 appeared broadly comparable to McLaren in clean-air conditions, but the superior straight-line speed of the McLaren MCL40 ultimately proved decisive throughout the Sprint. This advantage is largely attributed to the effective use of the Mercedes power unit, combined with strong energy recovery and deployment efficiency. Additionally, Charles Leclerc’s small mistake at turn 11 further eliminates any remaining realistic chance of catching Oscar Piastri in the closing stages.
The Sprint Race eventually concludes with a podium finish for Charles Leclerc, which represents a solid but slightly frustrating result given the underlying pace potential. A better execution in qualifying could have placed him in a position to fight more directly with McLaren on equal terms. For Lewis Hamilton, the race proves more challenging, as he continues to lack the same level of feeling and confidence compared to his teammate, indicating that further adaptation is still required. Attention now shifts to the second qualifying session of the weekend, before further setup adjustments are made, a strategic move that could potentially provide both Ferrari drivers with an additional performance advantage for the remainder of the Miami Grand Prix weekend.
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