Charles Leclerc Leads the Way as Ferrari Upgrades Deliver Early Impact
Ferrari’s extensive upgrade package paid immediate dividends at the Miami Grand Prix, with topping the timesheets in the opening and only practice session of the sprint weekend.
Formula 1 returned to action for the first time since Suzuka with an extended 90-minute Free Practice 1, allowing teams extra track time to adapt to newly introduced regulation tweaks. Among the most talked-about developments was Ferrari’s aggressive upgrade programme, with the Scuderia rolling out 11 changes to its SF-26.
Both and Leclerc were quickly on track, gathering crucial data as Ferrari aimed to assert early dominance. That intent was reflected in the final classification, where Leclerc edged the competition to land the first blow of the weekend.
Reigning world champion delivered an encouraging response for Red Bull, finishing second while debuting the team’s own interpretation of Ferrari’s innovative rotating rear wing concept—popularly dubbed the ‘macarena’. McLaren’s secured third, continuing the team’s consistent form.
However, championship leader was unable to maximise the session, missing out on a soft tyre run that could have elevated his position.
Earlier in the session, had set the initial benchmark with a 1:30.688 for McLaren, though conditions and evolving track grip meant times continued to improve as the session progressed.
There were also signs of early teething issues across the grid. Hamilton reported a “snappy” rear end in his Ferrari, suggesting the upgrades may still require fine-tuning. Alpine’s raised concerns over unusual smells from his car, while Mercedes driver complained of odd turbo noises—famously mimicking a steam train over team radio to illustrate the problem.
Tyre strategy in the early running leaned heavily towards the hard compound, as teams prioritised long-run data collection over outright pace in a session that carried added significance due to the sprint format.
Off the track, attention also turned to Audi, where took up his role as racing director on the pit wall for the first time, marking a new era for the team following the exit of Jonathan Wheatley.
With no further practice sessions scheduled, Leclerc’s early advantage gives Ferrari a critical edge heading into qualifying, as rivals scramble to interpret both their upgrades and the evolving competitive order in Miami.