McLaren Shows Surprising Pace in Miami GP Friday Practice

McLaren and Lando Norris emerged as potential disruptors to Mercedes' early-season dominance after a strong showing in Friday's practice sessions at the Miami Grand Prix. Following a five-week break and three consecutive wins for Mercedes to start the 2026 season, the opening day of running at the Miami International Autodrome suggested the competitive order might not be as settled as previously thought. The day's action provided the first real glimpse of form after the extended hiatus, setting the stage for an intriguing weekend.

Why it matters:

Mercedes entered the Miami weekend as the clear benchmark, having secured maximum points from the opening three rounds. A serious challenge from another team, especially after a long break where development progress can vary, signals that the championship fight could be more open than anticipated. For McLaren, demonstrating competitive single-lap and long-run pace is crucial for morale and proves their development trajectory is pointing in the right direction after a mixed start to the new regulatory era.

The details:

• Norris Leads the Way: Lando Norris topped the timing sheets in one of the day's practice sessions, with his McLaren showing impressive speed around the tight and technical Miami circuit. His lap times were consistently competitive throughout the runs.
• Mercedes Still Strong: Despite McLaren's headline time, Mercedes drivers were closely matched and appeared to be focusing on race simulations and set-up work. Their long-run pace, a traditional strength, looked formidable.
• Ferrari's Quiet Day: Scuderia Ferrari, expected to be in the mix, had a less conspicuous Friday. Data suggested they were struggling slightly with tire management over longer stints, an area they will need to address overnight.
• Midfield Battle Intensifies: The fight behind the top teams appeared exceptionally close, with Aston Martin, Alpine, and the improved Haas team separated by mere tenths of a second, promising a fierce qualifying battle on Saturday.

What's next:

All eyes will now turn to Saturday's final practice and qualifying, which will reveal if McLaren's Friday pace was a genuine threat or a product of different run plans and fuel loads.

• The true pecking order will become clear when teams run in identical, low-fuel qualifying trim. Mercedes will be expected to respond strongly.
• Track evolution and the ever-present threat of unpredictable weather in Miami could throw an additional variable into the mix, making strategic preparation from Friday's data absolutely critical for Sunday's race.