In Antonelli’s victory, the driver played a decisive role compared to the single-seater. The Red one highlighted the power deficit of the power unit, which is instead the strong point of the Red Bull. But the biggest improvements are those of McLaren
The Miami GP was highly anticipated as a real new start to the 2026 season also due to the extensive developments brought by three out of four top teams. The obvious reference goes to Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull, who in Florida introduced extensive and profound changes to their respective cars. The weekend in the sprint format could appear to be one of the least suitable for evaluating the validity of the interventions but, in reality, beyond the pure sporting result, on Sunday evening a new technical hierarchy emerged, taking into consideration the entire weekend.
f1, how is mercedes after miami
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Mercedes made no changes, the only one among the top teams and despite Antonelli’s victory it seemed clear that it was a success in which in the car-driver package, the second had greater importance, in a W17 less at ease on the circuit that winds around the Miami Dolphins stadium. The Mercedes PU seemed to be the most significant strong point, on a technical level, when compared to the chassis and aerodynamics, which performed less well than the rivals. Only in Miami, despite the victory, it was overall the least convincing of the four. No substantial performance peak, with the exception of a residual leadership in qualifying but much less marked than in the first three races. Second but detached from McLaren in terms of overall performance.
Ferrari news after the Miami GP
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Ferrari, on the other hand, was the team that most evolved the SF-26, in eleven different areas. The reactivity seemed very good, the aerodynamic efficiency in the long straight, certainly increased by the Macarena wing which, according to what emerged, passed the test in its final version brought to Miami. But the general goodness of the car, agile even when changing direction, highlighted the power deficit of the PU. Not so much at the level of energy management, as the regulatory corrections have made it, at least on this route, less critical. But in terms of power, specifically of the endothermic part. In essence, it appears increasingly necessary to be able to access ADUOs, to close a gap that would not be possible to tangibly reduce by relying only on other aerodynamic developments. The SF-26 is a very valid car, but penalized by a decidedly insufficient acceleration out of slow corners, like the power in a straight line, in the phases in which the electric power cannot replace or support that of the endothermic engine. All this relegates it to third place on equal merit with Red Bull.
mclaren, shooting in miami
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The MCL40, however, was the single-seater that really showed off its potential for the first time this season. What we mean is that the aerodynamic changes from the front wing to the sides, the bottom and the rear wing have had the effect of a decidedly reactive and precise car. In practice, Piastri and Norris could manage it in every sector of the track with extreme effectiveness and ease. The visual impression was that of a single-seater biting into the Miami asphalt, giving a sensation of perfect control on the part of the two drivers. The Mercedes PU is no longer that mysterious object that prevented both MCL40s from starting in China. It’s as strong a point in Woking as it is in Brackley, but on par with vehicle dynamics and aerodynamic guise. In terms of performance, the MCL40 deserves first place in Miami.
the red bull has grown wings
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The RB22, as mentioned, deserved a third place in terms of performance in Florida. In the performance equation, what counted was the certainty of a power unit, certainly valid, at the same level as the Mercedes one. But above all, the not only aerodynamic changes that have affected the RB22 from the front to the rear wing in the Milton Keynes interpretation of the Macarena, including modified sides and bottom. But also on a mechanical level with a completely redesigned steering column that gave Verstappen confidence again and perhaps even too much confidence in Hadjar who committed the sin of “over drive” leading him to the error that eliminated him from the race. The RB22 is not yet perfect in all conditions, with some residual balance problems, but the evolution has definitely been positive, having reduced the gap to the best by half.
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