Ferrari's Miami upgrades deliver mixed results as Hamilton questions simulator work

Key facts

• Charles Leclerc qualified third for the Miami Grand Prix, 0.345 seconds behind Kimi Antonelli's pole.
• Lewis Hamilton qualified sixth after a set-up change made the car 'night-and-day different' from the Sprint.
• Hamilton said the simulator at Maranello sent him in the wrong direction and he may cut it out.
• Ferrari brought a significant upgrade package for the Miami weekend.
• Leclerc spun on his final qualifying lap, calling it 'all on me'.
• Hamilton finished seventh in the Sprint after a battle with Max Verstappen.
• Practice saw Leclerc fastest, 0.164 seconds ahead of Verstappen.
• Miami is a sprint weekend with qualifying setting the grid for the sprint race.

Leclerc third but unsatisfied as Ferrari upgrades show promise

Charles Leclerc qualified third for the Miami Grand Prix, but the Ferrari driver expressed disappointment with the result, believing the car was not fast enough. He ended the session 0.345 seconds behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, who took pole position. Leclerc had secured the final podium spot in Saturday's Sprint, but said he was 'not satisfied with P3' despite optimism that momentum would help. Ferrari introduced an extensive upgrade package aimed at closing the gap to Mercedes, but Leclerc struggled with challenging weather conditions and inconsistent car performance. 'It was on the limit,' he said after qualifying. 'At the end of the day, we were just not fast enough today, and this weekend. We brought a significant package, which helped us, but there is still here and there where we need to improve.' He noted that the wind changed from run to run, making the car behave differently, especially in Turns 11 and 12. 'There were massive differences between laps, so that was tricky to manage to put a lap together,' he added. Despite the frustrations, Leclerc acknowledged that P3 is a good starting position and looked forward to the race.

Hamilton's set-up reversal transforms car performance

Lewis Hamilton qualified sixth in Miami, but the seven-time world champion found a dramatic improvement after Ferrari changed his car's set-up following a frustrating Sprint. In the Sprint, Hamilton lost a close battle with Max Verstappen and finished seventh. The adjustments paid off in qualifying, with Hamilton breaking into the top three during Q2 before slipping back in Q3. 'We changed the car going into Qualifying and it was much, much better,' Hamilton said. 'In hindsight, I wish we'd started with the car like that – that's where Charles started. The car was night-and-day different so I was basically learning through the session. When it got to Q2 it was solid, but then when I got to Q3, I struggled at Turn 1 and Turn 8. I just didn't really extract the most from the car.' Hamilton acknowledged that the top three was probably impossible, but he was encouraged by the progress. 'It's a much better car for tomorrow so I'm excited for tomorrow's race,' he said, referring to the Grand Prix.

Hamilton questions simulator direction after Miami struggles

During the five-week break before Miami, Hamilton spent time in Ferrari's simulator at Maranello. However, he now believes that work pushed him in the wrong direction on set-up. After the reversal that improved his car for qualifying, Hamilton indicated he might cut simulator time in the future. 'I think the simulator really sent me in the wrong direction, so I think I might cut that out,' Hamilton told media. 'If I'm honest, I think the simulator really sent me in the wrong direction.' He explained that the car in qualifying was 'miles different' from the Sprint and Friday's session, and he wished he had started with that set-up. Hamilton added that he does not feel comfortable in the top six, saying, 'It is not where I want to be, so naturally, I am not happy, but I'm happy that we made changes going into qualifying, we progressed.' He expected the car to feel better in the wet conditions forecast for the race.

Practice pace suggests Ferrari potential despite qualifying gaps

In the only practice session for the Miami Grand Prix, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc set the fastest time, 0.164 seconds ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen. McLaren's Oscar Piastri was third fastest, followed by Lewis Hamilton in fourth. The session was extended by 30 minutes to allow teams to understand rule changes to engine-management systems. Mercedes, winners of the first three races, had a troubled session. George Russell suffered a turbo problem that was fixed by a reset, finishing sixth fastest, 0.790 seconds off Leclerc's pace. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli did not get a chance to run on soft tyres at the end because Mercedes were investigating an engine problem. World champion Lando Norris was seventh fastest in the other McLaren, ahead of Alpine's Pierre Gasly, Red Bull's Isack Hadjar, and Williams' Carlos Sainz. Piastri had a minor brush with the wall at the end of the session, but it was otherwise uneventful apart from drivers running wide at the end of long straights.

Sprint weekend format adds pressure for Ferrari

Miami is a sprint weekend, meaning qualifying sets the grid for a shorter sprint race on Saturday, followed by the main Grand Prix on Sunday. The compressed schedule leaves little time for teams to adjust set-ups between sessions. For Ferrari, the upgrade package was intended to close the gap to Mercedes, but the team faces challenges in extracting consistent performance. Leclerc's third-place qualifying position gives him a strong starting spot for the sprint, while Hamilton's sixth place leaves him work to do. The wet weather forecast for the race could shake up the order, and Hamilton expressed confidence that the improved balance would help in those conditions. Ferrari's performance in Miami will be a key indicator of whether their upgrades have truly closed the gap to the frontrunners, or if inconsistencies remain. The team's ability to adapt quickly will be tested over the sprint weekend.

Hamilton's self-criticism reflects high standards

Hamilton's admission that he is 'not comfortable in the top six' underscores the high expectations he holds for himself and Ferrari. The seven-time champion has struggled to adapt to the SF-26, but the set-up change in Miami offered a glimpse of the car's potential. His willingness to reconsider simulator use shows a driver willing to challenge established methods. 'If I could, I would start with what I had [in qualifying] on Friday, and have that practice of driving the car as it was [on Saturday], because it was miles different,' Hamilton said. The gap to Antonelli's pole time was significant, but Hamilton's improvement from Sprint to qualifying suggests Ferrari may be closer than the grid positions indicate. Leclerc, meanwhile, remains focused on closing the gap to Mercedes. 'We brought a significant package, which helped us, but there is still here and there where we need to improve a little bit,' he said. The Miami weekend will reveal whether Ferrari's upgrades can translate into race pace.

Outlook: Ferrari's progress under scrutiny in Miami

The Miami Grand Prix weekend is a critical test for Ferrari's upgrade package. Leclerc's third-place qualifying and Hamilton's sixth-place finish show mixed results, but the team's practice pace suggests potential. The wet race could level the playing field, and Hamilton's confidence in the car's balance may pay off. Ferrari's ability to extract consistent performance from the upgrades will determine whether they can challenge Mercedes and Red Bull. Leclerc's spin on his final qualifying lap, which he called 'all on me,' highlights the fine margins at play. For Hamilton, the decision to cut simulator time could reshape his preparation approach. As the season resumes after a five-week break, Miami offers Ferrari a chance to prove their upgrades are a step forward. The sprint weekend format adds urgency, and both drivers will need to maximise every session. The results here could set the tone for the next phase of the championship.

The bottom line

• Charles Leclerc qualified third in Miami, 0.345s off pole, and called Ferrari's pace insufficient despite upgrades.
• Lewis Hamilton improved from seventh in the Sprint to sixth in qualifying after a set-up change that made the car 'night-and-day different'.
• Hamilton questioned the value of simulator work, saying it sent him in the wrong direction and he may cut it out.
• Ferrari's upgrade package showed promise in practice, with Leclerc fastest and Hamilton fourth.
• Miami is a sprint weekend, adding pressure to adapt quickly; wet weather is forecast for the race.
• Both Ferrari drivers expressed cautious optimism but acknowledged gaps to Mercedes and Red Bull.