Leclerc Tops Opening Miami Practice for Ferrari in 2026 Sprint Weekend

Charles Leclerc set the fastest time in the sole practice session for the 2026 Miami Grand Prix, leading a Ferrari one-two at the top of the timesheets ahead of Max Verstappen's Red Bull. The session, which replaces the usual FP1 and FP2 format on a Sprint weekend, offered the first glimpse of competitive order ahead of qualifying later today.

Why it matters:

With only one hour of practice before the high-stakes Sprint Qualifying, teams had minimal time to dial in their cars for the unique Miami circuit conditions. The results provide an initial, though not definitive, indicator of performance and can heavily influence setup confidence heading into the competitive sessions that immediately follow.

The details:

• Ferrari's Strong Start: Charles Leclerc led the way with a 1m29.310s, with new teammate Lewis Hamilton close behind in fourth, suggesting the Scuderia has found a strong baseline setup.
• Close at the Front: Reigning champion Max Verstappen split the Ferraris, finishing second and just under three-tenths off Leclerc's pace, while McLaren's Oscar Piastri was a close third.
• Mercedes in the Mix: The Mercedes pair of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell slotted into fifth and sixth, respectively, showing promising pace but with a gap of over seven-tenths to the ultimate pace.
• Midfield Battle: Alpine's Pierre Gasly led the midfield in eighth, with Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) and Carlos Sainz (Williams) rounding out the top ten in a tight group.
• Backmarker Struggles: The new Cadillac team, with Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, along with Aston Martin, appeared to face significant challenges, occupying the final positions on the timing screen.

What's next:

All focus now shifts to Sprint Qualifying (SQ) and the Sprint Race itself. Teams have no further practice time to make adjustments, meaning the data from this single session is critical. The tight gaps between the top teams—especially Ferrari, Red Bull, and McLaren—promise a fiercely competitive fight for the top grid spots in the main qualifying session later this weekend.