Charles Leclerc reckons Mercedes will still be a step ahead of Ferrari at this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix, despite the Scuderia bringing several updates to its 2026 Formula 1 car.

The Italian outfit has 11 updated components across its SF-26, which is the most of any team, as Miami is the ideal place for upgrades due to the April rounds in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain being cancelled.

Mercedes on the contrary has only brought two upgrades this weekend, but Leclerc still thinks the Silver Arrows will remain the dominant force after winning all three grands prix so far in 2026.

Ferrari is instead facing pressure from third-placed McLaren, which was ahead on pace last time out in Japan and had Oscar Piastri on course for the win until an untimely safety car.

It has nevertheless applied seven upgrades to its MCL40 this weekend, meaning McLaren is one of seven teams to have brought more than five car updates to Miami.

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Leclerc said: “It's going to be pretty unusual to see so many upgrades on so many different teams. Also for the way the season has been with the five-week break, so I'm pretty sure most of the people will have kind of new cars from here.

“Whether it will change significantly the pecking order that we have seen since the beginning of the year, I doubt so. We might see less or more gaps between some teams, but I don't know.

“At least for us, there's McLaren that was very close in the last weekend, so I think the package will make a difference on that, hopefully for us better.

“But at the point of going and getting Mercedes, I think they were too ahead for us to actually get them only with what we are bringing here. But it's going to be very interesting.

“I think it's going to dictate a lot of what's going on after that, because there will be new direction of development and new things that we might want to explore after the weekend and after having analysed what the other team will bring.”

One thing that may decide this weekend’s grand prix is the weather as rain is forecast for Sunday and recently Ferrari actually completed a wet test at its home track in Fiorano.

The preparation done there might help it this weekend as much as its upgrades, which Leclerc’s team-mate Lewis Hamilton claimed are done to improve car power.

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

“I did two days testing the rain in Fiorano and so that hopefully puts me in a decent position to figure out if it rains on Sunday,” said the seven-time world champion.

“It's been good for everyone to step back and have a look at analysing their first three races and obviously the last race I felt I was down on power.

“We did a deep dive and understood that it wasn't the engine but the systems all together including several things coming together to the eight, nine tenths of straightline power.

“We got on top of that, worked in the sim at the factory every week training a huge amount and I felt refreshed.”

Hamilton arrives this weekend sitting fourth in the standings and eight points behind third-placed Leclerc, who is 23 off championship leader Kimi Antonelli.

Photos from Miami GP - Thursday

George Russell, Mercedes

James Sutton / Formula 1 / Formula Motorsport Ltd via Getty Images

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Ryan Pierse / Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Lando Norris, McLaren

Ryan Pierse / Getty Images

The Ferrari front wing

Kym Illman / Getty Images

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Mark Thompson / Getty Images

Graeme Lowdon, Team Principal of Cadillac F1 Team, Terry Crews

Brett Farmer / LAT Images via Getty Images

Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari

Ryan Pierse / Getty Images

Nigel Mansell

Mark Thompson / Getty Images

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Hector Vivas / Formula 1 via Getty Images

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Hector Vivas / Formula 1 via Getty Images

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

James Sutton / Formula 1 / Formula Motorsport Ltd via Getty Images

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Stephanie Tacy / NurPhoto via Getty Images

Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Racing Bulls team photo

Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Hector Vivas / Formula 1 via Getty Images

Alexander Albon, Williams

Sona Maleterova / Getty Images

Alexander Albon, Williams

Sona Maleterova / Getty Images

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images

Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Hector Vivas / Formula 1 via Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Chris Graythen / Getty Images

Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Ryan Pierse / Getty Images

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Ryan Pierse / Getty Images

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Sona Maleterova / Getty Images

A general view of the paddock inside Hard Rock Stadium

Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Kym Illman / Getty Images

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Mark Thompson / Getty Images

The front wing of the Haas F1 Team VF-26

Stefano Facchin / Alessio Morgese / NurPhoto via Getty Images

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

James Sutton / Formula 1 / Formula Motorsport Ltd via Getty Images

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images

Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

Ryan Pierse / Getty Images

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

James Sutton / Formula 1 / Formula Motorsport Ltd via Getty Images

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

James Sutton / Formula 1 / Formula Motorsport Ltd via Getty Images

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

James Sutton / Formula 1 / Formula Motorsport Ltd via Getty Images

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Hector Vivas / Formula 1 via Getty Images

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Mark Thompson / Getty Images

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Hector Vivas / Formula 1 via Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Ryan Pierse / Getty Images

Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Team

Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Chris Graythen / Getty Images

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Clive Mason / Getty Images

Kimi Antonelli: F1 race starts issue is "fundamental" and needs solution

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

Alex Albon has revealed that all 22 Formula 1 drivers were united in the discussions with the FIA and Formula One Management regarding the 2026 regulations. 

The regulations were discussed during the impromptu five-week break between the Japanese and Miami Grands Prix, and as a result of those talks, tweaks have been introduced for this weekend's race at the Miami International Autodrome. 

During an interview with Will Buxton on the Up To Speed podcast, Albon explained that the drivers were all in agreement with what needed to be changed. 

"There's almost a buffer now between what was acceptable last year and what's acceptable this year," the Williams driver explained when asked if the general feeling among the drivers was that they need to respect each other more on track after Oliver Bearman's 50G crash during the Japanese Grand Prix.

"We like to race between millimetres, giving each other just enough space and playing with the rules of one car width. But at the moment, the closing speeds like you saw are so big that there has to be a bit of a buffer from the drivers, and as drivers, we understand that it's a mutual respect between all of us.

"We don't want it to be over-policed by the FIA, as drivers, we just want to respect each other first, if it is still not going the way we want it to and the inevitable driver still comes out in us, then maybe get it policed. But for now, let's see."

Alexander Albon, Williams

He added about the discussions surrounding the regulation tweaks: "First of all, we are very united because we're all purists at heart. I think what the FIA appreciate about our feedback is that it's non-biased. Clearly, when you have four or five power unit manufacturers in the sport, there is always going to be an agenda at hand, and everyone's going to try to put the regulations to their advantage.

"The drivers don't hold that. We just want to race. So, I really like the fact that the FIA are bringing us into these conversations. I wouldn't say that's been such a thing in the past, maybe because it wasn't needed, but for the most part, we give advice.

"We tell them what we think is gimmicky or not pure, and they do take it on board. Of course, they explain to us the big picture of the sport, and we get it. And so I think that also the more that they bring us into it, the more that I feel like you won't get angry drivers because we're consulted.

"We like to be brought in because it gives us an opportunity to have a say. For example, the regulation changes that have happened in Miami. A lot of that has come from conversations with drivers and whatnot. And so we're positive about the changes made."

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

Oscar Piastri has insisted that his relationship with his McLaren team-mate Lando Norris did not change during their tense championship title battle in 2025.

As the Woking outfit dominated the majority of the 2025 season, the drivers' championship became a fierce battle between the two McLaren drivers, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen joining the fight in the latter part of the year.

The intra-team fight became a big talking point of 2025 with McLaren adopting the approach of allowing both drivers to fight with the provision of not crashing into one another. Ultimately, Norris secured his maiden championship at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Verstappen finished second and Piastri finished third.

While it was tense on track at times, Piastri has confirmed during an appearance on the High Performance podcast that his off-track relationship with Norris has not changed.

"In all honesty, I don't think it really changed, which I don't think anyone really believes or struggles to believe. I think it's very much down to how we are as people," the Australian driver explained.

"I think we're both quite good at separating what happens on the racetrack versus off the racetrack. Our marketing days that we had to do together, for example, were exactly the same.

"We get asked about our relationship as team-mates quite a lot and I think probably it was actually better at the back end of last year than it was in the first six months when we were getting to know each other, because we know each other more, and we spend so much time around one another every year.

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

"So it really didn't change much, because we both knew the situation we were in of trying to beat each other, and only one of us could win. We knew all of that, but it never got nasty. I think that's a really important thing because I think it would have been very easy for last year to have got nasty.

"And if it really got bad, there probably would have been the question of whether one of us was even sitting here doing this interview wearing orange. The team dynamics are so important to protect going forward.

"Obviously, we've not quite started this year the way we want, but it would have been so easy for the battle of last year to make it look 10 times worse and 10 times worse for a long time."

He added: "We obviously had a couple of times where we came together, but there was never... I think in title battles, especially between team-mates, that have turned sour, there's normally been some element of games or trying to hide stuff or something like that.

"For both of us, we're just not really like that. But also, we've seen that play out as well, and it doesn't take much to get into that sequence of, 'I'm going to do this', and then the team-mate goes, 'Oh well, OK I know you did that, so I'm going to do this', and then it just escalates.

"For both of us, even if we did have problems, they were never intentional. Even if we felt like we'd crossed the line either, we never had to confront each other. But I think we both knew if we'd crossed the line ourselves and went, 'My bad.' And the team held us accountable for that as well. We had a good system to keep things friendly."

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

George Russell has been urged to remain calm if his Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli beats him again at the upcoming Miami Grand Prix. 

Russell has found himself trailing his young Italian team-mate by nine points after the first three rounds of the season. While the Briton remains a favourite for the title, Antonelli is clearly posing a threat.

The 28-year-old driver started the season off on a high, winning the Australian Grand Prix and Chinese sprint race, but issues during qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix and an unfortunately timed safety car at the Japanese Grand Prix gave Antonelli the opportunity to claim crucial points.

Heading into the Miami Grand Prix, former IndyCar driver and F1 TV presenter James Hinchcliffe has argued that Russell should not panic if Antonelli beats him at the Miami International Autodrome. 

"He does, but I don't think it's quite as pressing time-wise as people are making it seem," Hinchcliffe explained on theF1 NationPodcastwhen asked how important it is for Russell to turn things around.

"We're in round four. There's a lot of racing to go. Just look back at last year after the summer break, you had a 34-point deficit between Piastri and Norris. And by Mexico, Norris had taken the championship lead back. So, a nine-point gap in Miami, I don't think should stress anybody out.

George Russell, Mercedes

"Yes, you don't want Kimi getting too much confidence. You don't want him winning in every type of circuit and getting on too much of a roll. But even if, like Piastri had that string of tracks that didn't suit him particularly well in the latter part of last year, and it added to the drop in performance right as Norris was peaking. If Kimi is particularly good at Miami, fine.

"Is he going to be good at Montreal? We don't know. He did OK there last year. But so did George. He did better. So even if Miami goes Kimi's way, I don't think it should be panic in the Russell camp.

"I think they just need to, more than anything, stay cool, stay calm, do what he does. He's been driving so well all of last year, start of this year.

"Everything Kimi has done well, he has done very well, but there have been little asterisks beside both China and Japan. So, if I'm Russell, I'm trying really hard not to panic because he and the team are doing great. They just need to focus and not let the success Kimi's having get to them."

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.