Miami GP Practice Analysis: Mercedes Leads, But Rivals Close Gap in Long Runs

An extended 90-minute practice session in Miami provided a rare, detailed look at race pace ahead of the sprint weekend, revealing Mercedes remains the benchmark but that Ferrari and Red Bull may have edged closer. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli and teammate George Russell set the strongest average long-run times, though Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was within 0.33 seconds per lap, suggesting a potential gain for the Scuderia.

Why it matters:

Long-run data on a sprint weekend is typically scarce, making this extended session a crucial indicator for both Saturday's sprint and Sunday's grand prix. The findings suggest the competitive order is stabilizing, but with key challengers like Ferrari and an upgraded Red Bull showing signs of progress, the battle at the front could be tighter than the season's opening races implied.

The details:

• Mercedes' Commanding Lead: The Silver Arrows' drivers topped the long-run averages, with Antonelli just 0.03s per lap faster than Russell. This reaffirms their position as the team to beat on race pace.
• Ferrari's Sector Strength: Leclerc emerged as the closest challenger, 0.33s off Mercedes' pace—a potential two-tenths gain from earlier races. The data shows Ferrari's car remains strong in the corners (Sectors 1 & 2) but loses time to Mercedes on the straights (Sector 3).
• Red Bull's Step Forward: After bringing a major upgrade, Max Verstappen's long-run pace deficit to Mercedes was around 0.88s per lap, an improvement of roughly four-tenths. The RB22's main strength is still top speed (Verstappen hit 333 kph), but it lacks downforce in the corners.
• Midfield Battle: Alpine's Franco Colapinto and the Haas drivers set the best long-run times in the midfield, with Williams' Carlos Sainz also showing promising pace. Aston Martin did not run heavy-fuel stints, while Racing Bulls and Cadillac appeared significantly off the pace.
• Tyre Strategy Note: In a potential strategic compromise, Red Bull was the only top team to use a set of medium tyres during practice, leaving them with one fewer set for the critical sprint and race sessions where that compound is typically vital.

What's next:

The long-run data sets the stage for a fascinating Miami weekend. While Mercedes holds the advantage, the reduced gaps to Ferrari and Red Bull could make strategy and tyre management more decisive. With low tyre degradation expected at the Miami International Autodrome, a one-stop strategy is likely under dry conditions, placing a premium on qualifying position and clean sprint race execution to capitalize on any race pace convergence.