Leclerc: Mercedes Still Ahead despite Ferrari’s 11 Miami Upgrades

Ferrari will roll out an unprecedented 11 component upgrades on its 2026 SF‑26 for the Miami Grand Prix, but Charles Leclerc still believes Mercedes will stay a step ahead.

Why it matters:

• Mercedes has won the first three races and leads the championship, so closing the performance gap remains a steep climb for Ferrari.
• Miami is a rare upgrade window after the early‑season break, so the flood of parts could tighten the field but may not flip the hierarchy.

The details:

• Ferrari’s 11 upgrades – floor, side‑pods, rear wing, cooling and power‑unit mapping tweaks, the most of any team.
• Mercedes’ two upgrades – a revised rear‑wing element and a minor ERS software tweak aimed at fine‑tuning an already strong package.
• McLaren’s seven upgrades – the only other team with more than five changes, keeping pressure on Ferrari’s pace.
• Weather factor – rain is forecast for Sunday; Ferrari’s recent wet‑test at Fiorano could help it find grip if the track turns slick.

What's next:

If rain arrives, tyre strategy could become the decisive factor and give Ferrari a chance to close the gap to Mercedes. A strong result would also tighten Leclerc’s championship fight as the season moves to Europe.