Miami GP Press Conference: Drivers Weigh New Rules, Upgrades and Weather

The drivers gathered at Thursday’s 2026 Miami Grand Prix press conference and gave their first impressions of the FIA’s recent rule tweaks, their teams’ upgrade programmes and the looming rain forecast. McLaren’s Oscar Piastre, Cadillac’s Sergio Pérez and Audi’s Nico Hülkenberg led the discussion, followed by Williams’ Carlos Sainz, Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar. Their comments underline how safety‑driven changes, aggressive part upgrades and unpredictable weather will shape the weekend.

Why it matters:

• The boost‑button limit and simplified qualifying procedures aim to curb extreme power‑unit disparities, improving safety and making the sprint‑qualifying format more driver‑friendly.
• Early‑season upgrades are crucial for teams still chasing the front‑row; Miami offers a test‑bed for how new parts translate from the simulator to a street circuit.
• Rain would be the first competitive wet session of the season, testing the new 250‑kW limit and tyre‑blanket strategies and potentially reshuffling the running order.

The details:

• Piastre (McLaren): Enjoyed driving a 2008 V8 at Fan Fest; expects the Miami upgrades to make the car “faster” but admits they won’t close the gap to Mercedes yet.
• Pérez (Cadillac): Sees the rule tweaks as a “step in the right direction” for qualifying excitement; aims to build on progress made at Suzuka.
• Hülkenberg (Audi): Welcomes Allan McNish’s appointment; hopes the sprint‑weekend yields points and that the new parts make the car more competitive.
• Sainz (Williams): Happy the FIA listened; cautions that the changes are modest and will need further refinement.
• Antonelli (Mercedes): Describes the weekend as a chance to defend his early‑season lead; notes only minor upgrades on the car.
• Hadjar (Red Bull): Confident the new parts are stronger than rivals but realistic about not fighting for a podium immediately.
• Weather concern: All three senior drivers flagged the forecasted rain, stressing the need for clear protocols and higher tyre‑blanket temperatures.

What's next:

The sprint qualifying on Saturday will be the first real‑world test of the reduced‑power regulations, while the main race on Sunday could become a wet‑weather showdown. Teams will gauge the effectiveness of their Miami upgrades against rivals and decide whether further aerodynamic or weight‑saving packages are needed before the next European stop. The FIA has signalled willingness to act quickly, so additional tweaks before the Canadian GP are plausible if the Miami data reveal persistent gaps.