Ferrari’s latest update package for the SF-26 EVO came under early scrutiny during Sprint Qualifying at the Miami Grand Prix, as performance levels fell short of expectations and triggered concern within Maranello. While Charles Leclerc attempted to highlight encouraging signs from the upgraded package, Lewis Hamilton delivered a far more restrained and uncertain assessment after a challenging session that exposed clear performance limitations.
The contrasting reactions from Ferrari’s two drivers underline an important early narrative in the 2026 Formula 1 development race: while there are glimpses of progress, the overall competitiveness of the package still appears inconsistent against leading rivals.
McLaren set the benchmark as Ferrari struggles to match front-running pace
Formula 1 returned to action in Miami following a month-long break, and the opening competitive session immediately suggested that McLaren had retained a performance advantage with its latest evolution package.
Lando Norris delivered a commanding lap of 1:27.869 to secure top position in Sprint Qualifying, narrowly ahead of Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli by approximately two-tenths of a second. Oscar Piastri followed closely in the second McLaren entry, confirming the team’s strong pace across both cars.
Among Ferrari’s efforts, Charles Leclerc emerged as the lead driver, placing fourth on the timesheets and finishing around four-tenths off the fastest lap. While not a disastrous result on paper, the gap to pole highlighted that Ferrari still has work to do in extracting consistent performance from its updated package.
Ferrari SF-26 EVO development questions ahead of Sprint Race
The Sprint Qualifying result has left Ferrari with several key strategic and technical questions heading into a crucial Saturday programme in Florida. Engineers at Maranello are now expected to conduct an intensive analysis session to understand why the SF-26 EVO did not fully deliver its expected performance window.
Despite the setback, the Sprint Race itself still offers an opportunity for both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton to recover positions and gather valuable race data ahead of Grand Prix Qualifying later in the weekend. Ferrari will be particularly focused on long-run consistency and tyre behaviour under Miami’s demanding track conditions.
Lewis Hamilton expresses concern over lack of competitiveness
Following the session, Lewis Hamilton admitted that expectations inside the Maranello team’s garage did not align with the actual performance seen on track. The seven-time Formula 1 world champion explained that the team entered the weekend with uncertainty, but still anticipated a stronger competitive position than what ultimately materialised.
According to Lewis Hamilton, the Ferrari SF-26 EVO did not feel fully balanced or optimised during Sprint Qualifying, and he suggested that the car’s behaviour across different track conditions remains difficult to predict. He also acknowledged that the team will need to work extensively overnight to identify the root causes of the performance deficit.
Lewis Hamilton further indicated that he had arrived in Miami with confidence in the Italian side’s direction, but conceded that the reality of the session fell short of expectations. He emphasised that understanding the lack of pace will be essential before attempting to improve competitiveness for the remainder of the weekend.
Charles Leclerc sees more positive signs despite performance gap
In contrast, Charles Leclerc offered a slightly more optimistic interpretation of Ferrari’s Sprint Qualifying performance. While acknowledging the gap to McLaren and Mercedes, he suggested that certain elements of the upgrade package appeared to function as intended and could provide a stronger platform in race conditions.
Ferrari’s internal analysis will now focus on reconciling the differing driver feedback, as the team attempts to convert its theoretical performance potential into consistent on-track results. The coming sessions in Miami will therefore be crucial in determining whether the SF-26 EVO can be optimised effectively or whether further adjustments are required.
For now, however, the Miami Sprint Qualifying has reinforced the sense that Ferrari’s development journey in the current Formula 1 season remains a work in progress, with both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton awaiting clearer signs of sustained competitiveness.
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