Lewis Hamilton's Miami Sprint hopes dashed by Ferrari slump

Lewis Hamilton's hopes for a strong qualifying performance in the Miami Grand Prix Sprint were extinguished after Ferrari's heavily-upgraded car failed to deliver when it mattered most. Despite showing promising pace in practice and the second segment of Sprint Qualifying, both Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc slipped down the order in the decisive final session, leaving the seven-time champion puzzled and disappointed.

Why it matters:

This performance is a critical early test for Ferrari's substantial upgrade package, which included a field-high 11 new parts for Miami. A slump in the final, most important session raises immediate questions about the car's consistency and ultimate peak performance under pressure, casting doubt on whether the upgrades provide the step forward needed to consistently challenge Red Bull and McLaren.

The details:

• Ferrari arrived in Miami with significant upgrades, and early signs were positive. Charles Leclerc topped the times in the sole practice session.
• The momentum continued into Sprint Qualifying's second segment (SQ2), where Leclerc was fastest and Hamilton placed a promising third.
• The performance collapsed in SQ3. Leclerc fell to fourth on the grid, while Hamilton slumped to seventh, behind both McLarens and his own Mercedes teammate, George Russell.
• Hamilton expressed clear confusion and disappointment post-session, stating he had "hoped that we would be better" but that the car "did not feel particularly great."
• He confirmed the team lacked immediate answers, noting they "didn't really know what to expect" from the new parts and would need to investigate overnight.

What's next:

The focus for Ferrari shifts to understanding the SQ3 performance drop and preparing for the main Grand Prix qualifying and race.

• Hamilton indicated the team would be doing "some work overnight to try and figure out why we're not that quick," suggesting setup or operational changes are likely.
• The true measure of the upgrade package's success will be its performance over a full race distance on Sunday, where tire management and race pace are paramount.
• For Hamilton, the result is a setback in his final season with Mercedes, forcing a recovery drive in the Sprint race itself to salvage points.