Full Breakdown
Leclerc Tops Miami GP Practice as Mercedes Battles Power-Unit Issues
5/2/2026, 4:33:21 AM
Background & Context
The 2026 Formula 1 calendar returned to Miami after a five-week hiatus caused by the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix. The weekend follows a sprint-format schedule, so only a single free-practice session (FP1) was held. The FIA extended FP1 to 90 minutes to give teams extra time to test the newly-introduced 2026 technical regulations and to evaluate the extensive upgrades many teams brought after the long break.
Core Practice Results
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc set the fastest lap of the session, recording a time of 1:29.310 and leading the timesheets by 0.297 seconds from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri completed the podium in third, while Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton was fourth. Mercedes struggled: championship leader Kimi Antonelli was fifth but retired early with a power-unit fault that prevented a soft-tyre run, and George Russell finished sixth after reporting unusual turbo noises. Aston Martin suffered a garage power-issue that delayed both cars.
Data & Statistics
| Position | Driver | Team | Time | Gap to leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:29.310 | — |
| 2 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:29.607 | +0.297 s |
| 3 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:29.758 | +0.448 s |
| 4 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:29.777 | +0.467 s |
| 5 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:30.079 | +0.769 s |
| 6 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:30.100 | +0.790 s |
All teams ran on the hard compound initially; soft tyres were introduced in the final 15 minutes.
Official Statements & Responses
Ferrari team principal Laurent Mekies said the team “focused on ourselves after the big break and the extensive car changes, assessing us against us was the main purpose.” Mercedes acknowledged the power-unit setbacks, noting that Antonelli’s issue curtailed his soft-tyre run and Russell experienced persistent turbo noise. The FIA confirmed the 90-minute format was a one-off adjustment to accommodate the sprint weekend and the new rule set.
Criticism & Opposition
Drivers voiced several concerns. Max Verstappen warned that “the drainage could be a real problem if the heavens open,” highlighting track-water-clearance worries. He also described the RB22’s gearbox shifts as “horrendous, up and down.” Kimi Antonelli complained that Lance Stroll was “weaving in front of me,” while George Russell described his turbo as “making a lot of noises… a bit like a steam train.” These remarks underscore apprehensions about car reliability and circuit safety.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Most outlets list Leclerc’s fastest lap as 1:29.310, but Autoracing1 reported a best time of 1:29.855. Verstappen’s time appears as 1:29.607 in most sources, yet the BBC notes 1:29.610. Hamilton’s lap is given as 1:29.777 by Reuters and 1:29.825 by the BBC. The variations reflect timing-system rounding differences but do not alter the overall order.
Why It Matters
Leclerc’s pace suggests Ferrari’s extensive upgrade package (eleven new parts) may close the early-season gap to Mercedes, which has won the first three races. Red Bull’s improved RB22 and McLaren’s refreshed MCL40 also appear competitive. Mercedes’ reliability concerns could jeopardise its dominance heading into sprint qualifying and the race.
What’s Next
Sprint qualifying begins at 4:30 pm local time (21:30 BST). The results of that session will set the grid for the Miami sprint race on Sunday, followed by the main Grand Prix later that day. Teams will have limited time to address the issues highlighted in FP1 before the weekend’s decisive sessions.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It was so important after the big break and with all the big changes on the car to try to assess us against us, really that was the main purpose.” — Laurent Mekies, Ferrari team principal
- “The drainage could be a real problem if the heavens open,” — Max Verstappen, Red Bull driver
- “horrendous, up and down” — Max Verstappen, Red Bull driver (gearbox shifts)
- “He was weaving in front of me” — Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes driver
- “making a lot of noises… a bit like a steam train” — George Russell, Mercedes driver
