Hamilton calls on Ferrari to reduce drag after 'no-man's land' Miami weekend

Lewis Hamilton has issued a clear instruction to Ferrari after a miserable Miami Grand Prix weekend: cut the drag. The seven-time champion finished seventh in both the sprint and the main race—later promoted to sixth after Charles Leclerc's time penalty—but called the performance a 'no-man's land' and wants straight-line speed improvements before Canada.

Why it matters:

Ferrari brought 11 upgrades to Miami, yet the SF-26 still lacked top-end speed. With Red Bull and McLaren pulling away, and Mercedes showing resurgence, the Scuderia cannot afford to waste points on circuits that reward low drag. Hamilton's request puts pressure on Maranello to deliver a fix quickly.

The details:

• Hamilton's race was compromised from lap one after contact with Alpine's Franco Colapinto. The collision cost the car 15-20 points of downforce, severely hampering race pace.
• Despite the damage, Hamilton managed seventh—a result that highlights both his damage limitation and the car's underlying weakness.
• Speaking to media, Hamilton said: "We need to see if we can cut some drag before the next race, because in a straight line we've got that deficit."
• Ferrari's upgrade package aimed to improve overall performance, but the straight-line speed gap remains a glaring issue, especially compared to the top teams.
• Hamilton's frustration was clear: "Obviously, it wasn't a good weekend at all. Seventh and a seventh ... just no-man's land in both races."

What's next:

The Canadian Grand Prix, a circuit where Hamilton has won seven times (though his last victory there came in 2019), offers a chance to reset. But unless Ferrari can reduce drag, the SF-26 will struggle on Montreal's long straights. The team must act quickly to give Hamilton a fighting chance and keep their season from slipping into mediocrity.