Hamilton Pinpoints Ferrari's Key Weakness After Miami GP: 'We Need to Cut Drag'

Lewis Hamilton has identified Ferrari's excessive drag as the primary weakness holding the SF-26 back from challenging the frontrunners, following a frustrating weekend at the Miami Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion finished seventh in both the Sprint and the main race (later promoted to sixth after teammate Leclerc's penalty), and he made it clear that the car's lack of straight-line speed is a critical issue that needs addressing.

Why it matters:

Ferrari entered 2026 with high hopes after a strong start to the season, but Miami exposed a significant performance gap on the straights. If the Scuderia cannot reduce drag quickly, they risk falling behind in the development race as the championship heads to power-sensitive circuits like Canada and Baku.

The details:

• Hamilton explained that the car's balance was inconsistent throughout the weekend: "It was very snappy on the way into corners and then massive understeer in mid-corner. That was not the balance you would want."
• Despite the handling issues, his main concern is aerodynamic efficiency: "I'm looking forward to the next race, but we need to see if we can find some... cut some drag before the next race. On the straight line, we've got that deficit, so we've got to have a look into that."
• Simulator strategy: Hamilton confirmed he will not use the simulator before the Canadian Grand Prix, as it did not pay off in Miami. He noted that his best weekend this season (China) came without sim work, so he plans to "back away from it for a little bit."

What's next:

Ferrari has a short turnaround before Montreal, and the team will focus on drag reduction measures. Hamilton will instead spend time at the Maranello factory for meetings. Given Canada's long straights and heavy braking zones, any lack of top speed will be even more painful. If Ferrari can make progress, Hamilton might finally have the tool to fight for consistent podium positions.