Ferrari’s Miami Grand Prix weekend has revealed a clear contrast in performance levels depending on tyre compound, with former F1 driver Ivan Capelli analysing why the SF-26 appeared competitive on mediums but lost crucial pace when switching to soft tyres during Sprint Qualifying.
While early sessions suggested strong potential, particularly in FP1 where both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton demonstrated encouraging race-pace indicators, the picture changed significantly in the decisive SQ3 phase, where Ferrari was unable to convert its baseline speed into front-running lap time.
From FP1 promise to Sprint Qualifying frustration for Ferrari
Ferrari’s start to the Miami weekend initially created optimism inside the Maranello camp. On medium compound tyres, the SF-26 showed solid balance, strong traction out of slower corners, and competitive long-run consistency that suggested a strong foundation for the Sprint format.
However, as the session progressed into the critical soft tyre runs, performance gains failed to scale in line with key rivals. This ultimately left Charles Leclerc fourth on the grid and Lewis Hamilton in seventh, despite both drivers extracting close to the maximum from the package available.
According to Ivan Capelli’s technical analysis, the key issue was not outright pace potential, but rather the inability to fully optimise the car when grip levels and aerodynamic sensitivity became more extreme.
Technical instability in middle sector limits Ferrari performance window
Ivan Capelli explained that Ferrari’s main difficulties emerged in the more complex and technical sections of the Miami circuit, particularly within the middle sector where braking precision and directional changes are crucial.
He observed that Lewis Hamilton struggled to fully attack kerbs and maintain stability through key transitions, with the car displaying moments of understeer leading into faster sections. This compromised exit speed and reduced overall lap efficiency.
Similarly, Charles Leclerc reported comparable handling limitations, with Capelli noting that both drivers appeared to lose confidence in the car’s responsiveness when attempting to push at maximum commitment levels.
Ivan Capelli further highlighted visual evidence from on-board footage, pointing out that Ferrari drivers were forced to delay throttle application in certain corners due to instability, which naturally resulted in time loss over a full qualifying lap.
Limited soft tyre improvement raises strategic concerns
One of the most significant findings from Sprint Qualifying was Ferrari’s relatively small performance gain when switching from medium to soft tyres in SQ3.
While most top teams extracted substantial improvements during the transition to the softer compound, the Maranello team’s progress was noticeably more modest. Charles Leclerc improved by approximately one tenth of a second, while Lewis Hamilton gained around two tenths.
Ivan Capelli emphasised that this delta was insufficient to compete with the leading group, particularly when compared to McLaren and Mercedes, who were able to unlock significantly more performance from the same tyre switch.
He also pointed to Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s exceptional lap as a key benchmark, noting that the Mercedes rookie delivered a dramatic improvement of around 1.2 seconds, demonstrating how effectively some cars were able to maximise the soft compound in qualifying trim.
McLaren and Mercedes set benchmark as Ferrari face qualifying limitation
Lando Norris secured Sprint Qualifying pole position, ahead of Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Oscar Piastri, reinforcing McLaren’s strong form at the Miami circuit. Behind them, the midfield remained tightly packed, but Ferrari’s inability to make a significant leap on soft tyres ultimately prevented a stronger starting position.
The final top order placed Charles Leclerc in fourth, followed by Max Verstappen and George Russell, with Lewis Hamilton completing the top seven.
This outcome highlights a growing pattern for Ferrari: competitive race pace potential is present, but qualifying execution—particularly on soft tyres—remains inconsistent when compared to front-running rivals.
Ferrari development focus as McLaren pressure increases
From a broader perspective, the Miami Sprint Qualifying session has reinforced both the strengths and weaknesses of Ferrari’s current package. While the SF-26 appears capable of strong performance on medium compounds and in race simulation conditions, its inability to consistently extract peak performance on soft tyres represents a key limitation.
For engineers in Maranello, the priority will be understanding why tyre activation and aerodynamic stability do not translate into expected qualifying gains when grip levels increase.
With Mercedes and McLaren continuing to set the benchmark and showing rapid development gains, the Italian side must close this qualifying efficiency gap quickly to fully support the championship ambitions of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in the 2026 Formula 1 season.
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