Overview
- Lando Norris topped Friday's sprint qualifying in Miami with a 1:27.869 lap, with Kimi Antonelli second, Oscar Piastri third, Charles Leclerc fourth and Max Verstappen fifth as George Russell managed only sixth.
- McLaren’s seven-part upgrade package delivered immediate pace, while Ferrari also arrived with a large update list and Mercedes brought only minor changes after the five-week break.
- The FIA issued Miami-specific hybrid guidelines that let teams cut electric boost by up to 350 kW at key corners and raised a speed threshold to 240 km/h, allowing drivers to start hot laps flat out instead of nursing the throttle.
- Mercedes’ dip stemmed from hot-track tyre overheating, a disrupted build-up that included a battery change for Antonelli, fresh engines under tighter measurement rules, and energy deployment choices that left time on the table in sector one.
- Miami’s heavy-braking layout and reduced charging demands made battery recovery easier, which analysts say may suit McLaren’s car, and attention now turns to whether Mercedes’ larger Montreal upgrade restores its early-season edge.