George Russell surprised by McLaren and Ferrari's 'impressive' Miami upgrade leap

George Russell admitted he was stunned by the significant performance jump shown by McLaren and Ferrari after they introduced major upgrade packages at the Miami Grand Prix, leaving Mercedes playing catch-up. The Briton qualified sixth for the Sprint, behind both McLarens and a Ferrari, while his teammate Kimi Antonelli secured a front-row start, highlighting a mixed and challenging session for the Silver Arrows.

Why it matters:

The immediate impact of the rivals' upgrades has intensified the battle at the front and exposed a potential vulnerability for Mercedes. With the team's own major update not arriving until Canada, this performance gap could allow McLaren and Ferrari to pull away in the constructors' championship if not addressed swiftly, putting pressure on Mercedes' development race.

The details:

• Both McLaren and Ferrari brought extensive new parts to Miami, with Ferrari introducing a field-high 11 upgrades, including a revised rear wing.
• The upgrade payoff was instant: Lando Norris took Sprint pole for McLaren, with Oscar Piastri third and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc fourth.
• Russell described their leap as "pretty damn impressive," noting, "we knew they'd probably close the gap, but they're quicker than us."
• He struggled with car balance and tire overheating in Miami's hot conditions, particularly in the twisty middle sector, compounding his difficulties.
• Mercedes' own significant upgrade package is scheduled for the Canadian Grand Prix, the next race on the calendar.

What's next:

All eyes will be on whether Mercedes' upcoming Canadian GP upgrade can close the evident performance deficit. For the immediate Miami Sprint and Grand Prix, Russell faces a recovery drive from his suboptimal grid position, while the team will gather critical data on their current package versus the new benchmark set by their rivals.