Scuderia Ferrari arrived at the Miami Grand Prix hoping a major aerodynamic development package would help close the gap to McLaren and Mercedes, but the outcome of the weekend has instead intensified scrutiny around the true potential of the Ferrari SF-26 EVO.
The Maranello-based team introduced one of its most extensive upgrade packages of the 2026 Formula 1 season in Florida, revising several important aerodynamic and mechanical areas of the car. Expectations were high heading into the Miami International Autodrome, especially as Ferrari aimed to strengthen the momentum of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in the increasingly competitive fight at the front of the grid.
Instead, the Miami Grand Prix produced Ferrari’s most disappointing overall result of the year so far, triggering criticism from sections of the British media and renewed questions about whether the Scuderia is developing quickly enough compared to its direct rivals.
Ferrari SF-26 EVO package showed promise but failed to deliver results
According to reports emerging after the race weekend, Ferrari engineers were not entirely dissatisfied with the data collected in Miami. Internally, there appeared to be confidence that the new components behaved as expected and generated positive aerodynamic feedback during both qualifying and race conditions.
The update package reportedly targeted multiple performance areas, including floor efficiency, airflow management and rear-end stability — all key weaknesses Ferrari has been attempting to address throughout the early phase of the Formula 1 season.
However, despite the encouraging telemetry, the final result failed to reflect meaningful progress on track. Operational mistakes, traffic issues and inconsistent execution across the weekend prevented Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton from converting the new package into a podium challenge.
Some within the paddock believe the Miami weekend demonstrated that Ferrari’s underlying concept still has untapped potential, particularly with additional developments expected later in the season. Speculation also continues regarding a revised Ferrari power unit package that could arrive around the Belgian Grand Prix, potentially offering another step forward in straight-line performance and energy deployment.
McLaren and Mercedes appear to maintain the upper hand
Despite Ferrari bringing a significantly larger development package than several rivals, McLaren and Mercedes still appeared stronger across both qualifying pace and long-run race performance in Miami.
That comparison has become a central talking point among Formula 1 analysts. While Ferrari committed substantial resources to its Miami upgrade program, McLaren and Mercedes reportedly introduced only smaller or partial updates, yet still looked more comfortable over a full race distance.
The contrast has fueled concerns that Ferrari may not be extracting enough performance from the SF-26 platform relative to the aggressive development pace currently being shown by the leading teams.
McLaren in particular continues to impress with its aerodynamic consistency and tire management, while Mercedes appears increasingly competitive as it refines its latest technical direction.
Karun Chandhok suggests Ferrari risks losing ground in Formula 1 development race
Former Formula 1 driver and Sky Sports F1 analyst Karun Chandhok reportedly expressed concerns that Ferrari’s Miami package may not have produced the level of progress many expected.
Speaking after the race weekend, Karun Chandhok suggested that if Miami represented Ferrari’s primary upgrade push for the first half of the season, then both McLaren and Mercedes were unlikely to feel seriously threatened by the Italian team’s current trajectory.
The former driver also indicated that the Miami Grand Prix should ideally have marked a turning point capable of bringing Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton closer to regular victories. Instead, the competitive picture appeared to show Ferrari drifting slightly further behind the pace-setting teams.
Attention is now rapidly shifting toward the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, where rival teams are expected to continue aggressive development programs. McLaren is believed to be preparing another update package for Canada, while Mercedes is reportedly targeting the event for the introduction of a larger technical evolution.
Pressure growing on Ferrari ahead of crucial races
For Scuderia Ferrari, the coming rounds could prove decisive in determining whether the SF-26 EVO can genuinely evolve into a championship-contending package or whether the team will instead face another difficult season battling to remain consistently inside the top three.
The pressure on Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton is also expected to increase as Formula 1 enters a critical phase of the development race. With rivals continuing to unlock performance gains through aerodynamic refinement, suspension improvements and tire optimization, Ferrari cannot afford to lose momentum.
While there is still belief inside Maranello that the Miami upgrades represent a step in the right direction, Formula 1 is ultimately judged by lap time and race results. At least for now, McLaren and Mercedes appear to have strengthened their positions at the front of the grid.
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