Formula 1 may be facing a turnaround in the 2026 season. Friday’s simulations in Miami indicate a more balanced scenario, with up to four teams fighting for the top positions.
Read more F1: FIA mourns the death of Alex Zanardi and praises his legacy
Mercedes’ dominance in qualifying was interrupted in the Sprint Qualifying, with Lando Norris securing pole and showing McLaren’s strength. The result reinforces the impression that the updates brought to the Miami GP changed the balance of power on the grid.
McLaren drew attention with a robust package of updates, including changes to brakes, floor, bodywork, and rear wing. Norris highlighted the immediate evolution of the car, while technical director Neil Houldey stated: “The pace is encouraging, the execution was excellent, and the focus is to turn this progress into results.” Oscar Piastri also showed competitiveness, staying close to his teammate throughout the day.
On the other side, Mercedes was surprised by the rivals’ progress. George Russell acknowledged the difference: “It’s surprising the leap McLaren and Ferrari have made, they were faster all day.” Kimi Antonelli, despite less track time in TL1 due to power unit issues, managed to secure a place on the front row, keeping the team in contention.
Read more F1: Domenicali laments the death of Alex Zanardi
Ferrari also showed consistent performance, especially with Charles Leclerc, who stood out in TL1. However, mistakes in SQ3 prevented a better grid position. Team principal Fred Vasseur pointed out losses on the straight, while Leclerc highlighted difficulties with the Soft tires, despite considering the race pace “quite strong.”
Red Bull showed clear signs of recovery. Max Verstappen stated that the team significantly reduced the gap to the leaders and felt more comfortable with the car. With important updates, including a new wing, the team believes it has resolved major limitations, reinforcing the expectation of an open battle between McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull throughout the weekend.
Read more F1: Alonso and Stroll are allowed to race after Sprint qualifying fiasco
