Ferrari head to Miami Grand Prix Sprint weekend hoping updates will reel in Mercedes

The 2026 Formula 1 championship resumes in Florida after forced cancellations in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, with the Miami weekend marking the second Sprint format event of the season and the first of three races in the United States.

After three races, Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have shown they can mix it with Mercedes, and will be hoping that in Miami they will be a step closer to the dominant German team.

In the Ferrari Miami GP preview, Vasseur said: “We are very pleased to finally be back on track after such a long break, an unusual occurrence in the middle of the season. Over the past few weeks, we have been working hard in Maranello, studying all the data from the first few races in order to prepare as well as possible for this round.”

Formula 1 teams arrive with upgrades after the enforced pause, while regulatory adjustments also come into effect, adding complexity to an already condensed Sprint schedule and a journey into the unknown for drivers and engineers.

Vasseur revealed: “We have some aero updates here, but of course the others teams will be doing the same. Therefore, it will be important to stay focussed, keep our head down and make the most of the only free practice session.”

The sole practice session on Friday has been extended to 90 minutes before Sprint Qualifying later the same day, placing greater emphasis on preparation and rapid data analysis.

The 5.412 kilometre Miami International Autodrome presents a mixed challenge, with 19 corners, long straights and heavy braking zones making car setup difficult, particularly in hot conditions. Track evolution across the weekend and thermal tyre degradation are expected to play a decisive role.

Pirelli has selected the C3, C4 and C5 compounds, reflecting the circuit’s relatively smooth surface, where tyre wear is driven more by temperature than abrasion.

Saturday features the Sprint race and Grand Prix qualifying, with Sunday’s race scheduled over 57 laps, totalling 308.326 kilometres, as Ferrari look to convert preparation into performance at a critical stage of the campaign.