Hamilton's Frustration Mounts as Leclerc Gap Exposes Ferrari Upgrade Concerns

Lewis Hamilton's Miami Grand Prix weekend was a source of frustration, as he was outpaced by teammate Charles Leclerc in both the Sprint and the main race. The Briton admitted Ferrari's upgrades hadn't delivered the expected pace, and he's now considering a break from simulator work to reset his approach.

Why it matters:

After a promising start to his Ferrari tenure, including a podium in China, Hamilton's performance dip in Miami raises doubts about his ability to consistently challenge Leclerc. With the championship battle tightening, every point matters – and Hamilton currently sits eight points behind his teammate and 49 adrift of leader Kimi Antonelli.

The details:

• Hamilton finished 7th in the Sprint, 15 seconds behind Leclerc (3rd), and crossed the line behind Leclerc in the Grand Prix before a penalty dropped the Monegasque to 8th. They were 10 seconds apart at the line.
• "I thought we would be stronger than we were," Hamilton said on Friday. On Saturday, he noted McLaren's upgrades exceeded expectations but "that's not how we've experienced ours."
• So frustrated is Hamilton that he declared he won't do any simulation work before Canada, feeling it's leading him astray. "I'll still go and hold meetings at the factory… but just going to back away from it for a little bit and see," he told PlanetF1.com.
• Former IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe called the next few rounds "telling." He noted Hamilton's early-season struggles mirror last year: "The way these cars are being lighter… is more towards his style… but is he comfortable enough to challenge somebody as quick as Leclerc week in, week out? I don't think we know yet."
• F1 correspondent Lawrence Barretto highlighted that Hamilton's deficit to Leclerc was present all weekend. "He hasn't clearly felt comfortable… when he doesn't start off strongly, he finds it hard to catch back up." Barretto added it's "too early to worry about Lewis" but admitted "race four where it hasn't quite gone to plan" for Hamilton.

What's next:

Hamilton heads to Canada with a revised approach, skipping simulator sessions and focusing on factory meetings. The next few races will determine whether his Miami struggles were a temporary setback or a worrying trend. With Leclerc consistently extracting more from the SF-26, the pressure is on Hamilton to close the gap and prove he can match his teammate.