Formula 1 Miami GP
Red Bull makes gains and Ferrari updates fall flat: A deep dive into the Miami GP data
Teams up and down the grid brought some major upgrades to Miami, but all eyes were on the front to see who could catch Mercedes
Kevin Hermann
Edited: May 5, 2026, 2:56 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Brett Farmer / LAT Images via Getty Images
After a five-week break, the balance of power in Formula 1 appears to have shifted significantly. Although the winner in Miami – Kimi Antonelli – was the same as in Japan, a wave of updates and possible adjustments to battery usage may have reshuffled the competitive order in a lasting way.
A look at the season averages from the first three race weekends of 2026 shows that Mercedes was initially the dominant force. In qualifying, its advantage over the nearest rival stood at 0.56 seconds, while in race pace they were ahead by as much as 0.53s per lap.
In Miami, however, that margin shrank considerably. Antonelli’s pole lap yielded “only” a 0.35s advantage, and in the race Mercedes managed to outpace McLaren by a mere 0.02s per lap. Overall, the Silver Arrows lost around two tenths over a single lap and more than half a second in race pace compared to the start of the season.
The reasons behind Mercedes’ dip: Are updates the only factor?
One key factor is easy to identify: while Mercedes' rivals introduced extensive upgrade packages in Miami, the Silver Arrows held back. The team brought only two minor changes – a rear-end optimisation to reduce drag and an update to the front brake cooling.
The competition took a far more aggressive approach: Ferrari introduced 11 new components, while Red Bull and McLaren each brought seven – with visible effect. Mercedes, meanwhile, is planning a larger upgrade package for the upcoming race in Canada.
However, the shift cannot be explained by updates alone. Two additional factors play a crucial role: track characteristics and regulatory adjustments.
Miami has traditionally not suited Mercedes. It wasn’t until 2025 that the team secured its first podium there. Historical data shows that Mercedes has, on average, been 0.22s per lap further off the pace in Miami compared to its season average – a significant contributor to the weaker performance.
As for regulatory changes, those involved do not consider them decisive. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella emphasised: “Already in Japan, I think we have made progress. And here we consolidated this progress. And this progress doesn't have to do with the changes, they are just a better way of working together.”
Development race: Red Bull and McLaren close in rapidly
Among the chasing teams, a different picture emerges. Red Bull made the biggest leap, gaining 0.92s seconds per lap compared to the first three races of the season. Even after adjusting for track characteristics, the improvement still stands at 0.7s –a massive step forward.
McLaren also made significant gains, closing the gap by 0.80s. When accounting for track characteristics, the figure rises to 0.87s, though it’s worth noting that a clear upward trend had already been visible in Japan.
Comparing race pace with the second stint in Japan, McLaren was 0.51s per lap closer to Mercedes in Miami. After adjustments, the real gain is estimated at around 0.56s.
Ferrari: Many updates, limited impact?
Ferrari introduced the largest upgrade package with eleven new parts, yet the effect was underwhelming. In Miami, their race pace deficit stood at 0.46s per lap, compared to 0.53s over the earlier part of the season.
This represents an improvement of just 0.07s. However, since Miami is generally considered a favourable track for Ferrari, the adjusted figures actually suggest a decline of 0.18s per lap.
Whether this impression holds will only become clear in the coming races. The sprint format, with its limited practice time, may also have played a role. It’s possible Ferrari has yet to fully unlock the potential of its package.
Midfield: Shifts with caveats
There were also notable movements in the midfield. Williams made a significant step forward, gaining 0.8s per lap and scoring valuable points. However, once track characteristics are factored in, the upgrades may have been worth only around 0.23s.
Alpine introduced six new parts and improved by 0.24s, but after adjustment this translates into a slight regression of 0.02s – highlighting how intense the development race has become, with mid-sized updates often yielding little more than consolidation.
Audi & Haas: Minimal updates, clear losses
Haas and Audi suffered the most from a lack of development, bringing just three updates between them. Haas lost 0.45s per lap despite the track suiting them well, while Audi dropped by 0.16 seconds – equating to a substantial 0.91-second regression once adjusted for track effects.
Aston Martin, by contrast, delivered a surprisingly strong performance: despite no updates, the team improved by 0.44s, or 0.28s after adjustment.
The most negative result came from Racing Bulls: despite introducing six updates, the team lost 0.86s per lap – the largest regression in the field. Cadillac brought nine new parts but managed only a marginal gain of 0.02s, far below expectations.
The development race remains the decisive factor in 2026. While firm conclusions cannot be drawn from a single race, Canada may already reveal the next shift in the competitive order.
Photos from Miami GP - Sunday
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Miami GP - Sunday, in photos
Formula 1
56
Read Also:
Formula 1Toto Wolff: Mercedes poor starts “not acceptable” if we want to win F1 world titles
Formula 1F1 2026 might be flawed, but Miami showed why it's also enjoyable
Formula 1A quick fix or work to be done: How F1’s rule changes went down in Miami
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Toto Wolff: Mercedes poor starts “not acceptable” if we want to win F1 world titles
Next article Red Bull apologises to Max Verstappen for not fixing F1 steering issue earlier
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Kevin Hermann
F1 Bahrain GP long runs: Max Verstappen the favourite in Malaysia?
Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
F1 Bahrain GP long runs: Max Verstappen the favourite in Malaysia?
Mercedes clearly ahead: How long-run pace compared in F1 Spanish GP practice
Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Mercedes clearly ahead: How long-run pace compared in F1 Spanish GP practice
Mercedes vs Ferrari: Italian GP long runs leave no clear favourite
Formula 1
Formula 1
Italian GP
Mercedes vs Ferrari: Italian GP long runs leave no clear favourite
More from
Ferrari
Charles Leclerc reacts to Ferrari fear: 'We know what line not to cross'
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
Charles Leclerc reacts to Ferrari fear: 'We know what line not to cross'
Why Ferrari failed to deliver on its hype in F1's United States GP qualifying
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
Why Ferrari failed to deliver on its hype in F1's United States GP qualifying
Latest news
Winners and losers from a frantic NASCAR Cup race at Talladega
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Talladega II
17 min
Winners and losers from a frantic NASCAR Cup race at Talladega
Herta endorses IndyCar’s international return with Barcelona while marveling at Palou’s dominance
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 51 min
Herta endorses IndyCar’s international return with Barcelona while marveling at Palou’s dominance
Why Chase Elliott has removed his name from NASCAR's Most Popular Driver Ballot
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Talladega II
1 h
Why Chase Elliott has removed his name from NASCAR's Most Popular Driver Ballot
Ducati: Aprilia got “unlucky” in Australian GP, can win every race from now
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
2 h
Ducati: Aprilia got “unlucky” in Australian GP, can win every race from now
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe