Leclerc Leads Miami Practice as Mercedes Battles Early Reliability

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc set the pace in Miami's sole practice session with a 1m29.310s, ahead of Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri, while Mercedes encountered power unit issues affecting Kimi Antonelli ahead of Sprint Qualifying.

Friday, 01 May 2026 Miami Grand Prix Round 4

Leclerc Dominates Extended Miami FP1

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc emerged fastest from Miami's extended 90-minute practice session, according to multiple sources including Autosport and Motorsport.com. Leclerc's benchmark time of 1m29.310s placed him almost three tenths clear of Max Verstappen's Red Bull, establishing early Ferrari momentum ahead of Sprint Qualifying.

The competitive order rounded out with Oscar Piastri's McLaren completing the top three, representing three different teams within the leading positions. According to The Race, this practice session marked the sole running of the weekend, with 10 of 11 teams declaring component upgrades for the Miami event.

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Mercedes Grapples with Power Unit Setbacks

The session highlighted contrasting fortunes for Mercedes, as championship leader Kimi Antonelli encountered power unit issues, according to Autosport and Motorsport.com. Sky Sports F1 reported that both Mercedes drivers suffered problems on Formula 1's return to Miami, placing the team on the back foot as the weekend progresses.

Ferrari's competitive showing extended beyond raw pace, with Sky Sports F1 noting the team arrived with a heavily-upgraded package, suggesting substantive technical gains ahead of the sprint format.

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