Ferrari laid down an early marker at the Miami International Autodrome as Charles Leclerc topped a highly significant and extended Free Practice 1 session ahead of Sprint Qualifying later today. On a weekend where teams have brought sweeping upgrades, Leclerc’s late soft-tyre effort of 1:29.310 proved enough to edge out Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri.
Ferrari Set the Pace in Miami as New Regulations Shake Up F1
With just one practice session on a Sprint weekend, teams were granted 90 minutes instead of the usual 60. This allowed crucial extra track time following a lengthy April break. Under searing Florida sunshine, air temperatures climbed above 30 °C while track temperatures peaked beyond 50 °C. Conditions were physically demanding for both drivers and machinery. As a result, the emphasis was firmly on data gathering and correlation rather than outright performance.
Mercedes Tested but Not Dominant
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli arrives in Miami holding a nine-point advantage over teammate George Russell. Thus, bringing the expectations that Mercedes would once again set the benchmark. Early signs were promising, as Antonelli briefly led the session on hard tyres. The team looked comfortable at long-run pace during the opening phases.
However, technical troubles disrupted their rhythm at a crucial stage of the session. Russell reported turbo issues that required garage attention and limited his running. Antonelli later suffered a power unit concern that curtailed his programme entirely and prevented a soft-tyre push.
Neither driver managed to feature in the Top 3 by the end of the session, which was surprising given Mercedes’ recent form. Whether this is a temporary setback or a sign of real vulnerability remains uncertain.
McLaren and Ferrari Bring Major Upgrades
Much of the intrigue centred on the scale of upgrades introduced across the grid. McLaren arrived with what team principal Andrea Stella described as a “completely new” car, signalling a major development push. Ferrari also introduced a substantial upgrade package that appeared to deliver immediate performance gains.
Leclerc’s session-topping lap underlined that progress in clear terms. Lewis Hamilton followed closely in fourth place, though still a few tenths shy of his teammate’s pace. McLaren, meanwhile, showed strong consistency across multiple runs.
Lando Norris looked competitive before a disrupted soft-tyre attempt limited his final time. Oscar Piastri ultimately secured third, reinforcing McLaren’s growing strength at a circuit where they have historically performed well.
Red Bull Searching for Consistency
Red Bull Racing delivered a session that mixed strong moments with visible inconsistency. Max Verstappen climbed to second late in the session and closed the gap to Leclerc significantly. However, earlier runs showed variability that made their true pace difficult to read.
At points, Red Bull appeared capable of challenging for the top spot. At other moments, they fell back into the midfield window depending on setup and fuel load. Verstappen also reported gear shift issues, suggesting ongoing mechanical fine-tuning is required.
Midfield Tightens as Data Takes Priority
Behind the front-runners, the midfield battle looked extremely compressed and competitive. Alpine continued their solid early-season trajectory, with both cars placing inside the top ten. Their consistency suggests they are becoming regular Q3 contenders if development continues.
Racing Bulls, featuring a striking special livery, also remained firmly in the competitive mix. Further back, Williams, Audi, Haas, and Cadillac focused heavily on long-run simulations and aerodynamic evaluation.
Flow-vis paint was visible across multiple cars, highlighting the importance of understanding upgrade packages. Cadillac in particular took an alternative approach by running medium tyres early to gather comparative data in their first home event.
Tyre Strategy and Conditions Add Complexity
Pirelli’s selection of the C3, C4, and C5 compounds added another strategic layer to an already complex session. Most teams began with hard tyres to establish baseline performance before switching to mediums and softs later on. Grip levels evolved rapidly as rubber was laid down and temperatures remained high throughout.
With only 12 tyre sets allocated for the entire Sprint weekend, every run becomes strategically significant. Teams must carefully balance Sprint Qualifying, the Sprint race, and Sunday’s Grand Prix. That constraint is forcing more conservative planning, especially for teams unsure of their upgrade performance.
A Session Full of Unknowns
Ultimately, FP1 in Miami delivered more questions than answers across the grid. Ferrari’s pace suggests a genuine step forward in competitiveness, particularly over a single lap. McLaren look increasingly capable of fighting at the front on a regular basis. Red Bull remains unpredictable, alternating between dominant pace and unexplained fluctuations.
Mercedes, despite their strong start to the season, leave Friday with both reliability concerns and performance uncertainties. There is limited time to react before Sprint Qualifying begins. If this session is any indication, the competitive order in Miami may be significantly closer and more volatile than at any point so far this season.