Ferrari to use Charles Leclerc’s data to find answer for ‘disappointed’ Lewis Hamilton’s Miami blues

Follow us on Google Discover

Ferrari are now set to compare Lewis Hamilton’s feedback with Charles Leclerc’s data to figure out why their updates at the Miami Grand Prix only seemed to help the latter.

The Scuderia put in the hard yards over the five-week break since the Japanese Grand Prix to arrive in Miami with a massive 11 upgrades for the SF-26. No team brought more updates than Ferrari have, in a bid to unlock more downforce and greater efficiency in straight mode.

Among the Scuderia’s upgrades at the Miami GP includes a fresh front wing, floor, rear wing, suspension and changes to their exhaust tail flap. Their efforts appeared to pay off on Friday, too, as Leclerc set the pace in practice at the Miami GP before he qualified P4 for the Sprint.

Hamilton has not adapted as easily to Ferrari’s updates as Leclerc, however, as the 41-year-old only achieved P4 in FP1 before qualifying P7 for the F1 Sprint. The seven-time champion was also 0.379 seconds slower than Leclerc in SQ3, as he also set a lap time 0.749s off pole.

Lando Norris claims pole position for the Miami Sprint! Who’s your star from Sprint qualifying? ⭐️

Let us know in the comments below!

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

Ferrari want to see if Charles Leclerc’s data explains Lewis Hamilton’s lack of pace in Miami

Hamilton had expected to be much stronger with Ferrari’s upgrades at the Miami GP, having spent a lot of time at their factory in Maranello during the break to help develop the SF-26. He and Leclerc also got to test Ferrari’s new upgrades during a filming day at Monza in April.

READ MORE: How to watch the 2026 Miami GP, including the Sprint, plus weather forecast

Now, Ferrari want to compare Hamilton’s feedback with Leclerc’s data to see if they can spot a reason for why he had a lack of grip and struggled managing the battery. That is according to FormulaTecnica, which adds that Ferrari still hope he can deliver in the Miami Grand Prix.

Hamilton’s ‘disappointment’ after Sprint Qualifying stems from having expected Ferrari’s on and off-track efforts over the break to pay off in Miami. Instead, he faced an unstable car in slow-speed sections and could not exploit their upgrades in the same way that Leclerc did.

Leclerc even left time on the table with his final flying lap during Sprint Qualifying on Friday, which could have further worsened Hamilton’s mood. Team principal Fred Vasseur was “not happy” with Leclerc’s Sprint Qualifying in Miami, having been P2 in SQ1 and then P1 in SQ2.

The Monegasque was only 0.010s slower than McLaren’s Lando Norris during SQ1, whereas Hamilton was 0.532s off his compatriot’s early benchmark on the medium C4 tyres. Leclerc then set the pace on the medium tyres in SQ2, while Hamilton was again 0.508s adrift in P3.

Ultimately, Norris took pole for the Miami Sprint when the top 10 changed onto the soft C5 Pirelli tyres with a 0.370s margin over Leclerc in P4. Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri also penned faster lap times than Leclerc could manage during SQ3.