– The sprint at the Miami Grand Prix provided further insight into the balance of power in the 2026 Formula 1 season. While a closer battle is emerging at the front, the field behind remains characterized by significant performance differences. Additionally, the shortened race format once again demonstrated its practical benefits under uncertain weather conditions.
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In the 19-lap sprint, Lando Norris prevailed in the McLaren and celebrated a victory from pole position. For Mercedes, this marked the first defeat in a direct competition session this season.
Oscar Piastri completed a strong team result in the second McLaren, while Charles Leclerc took third place in the Ferrari.
In the paddock, Mercedes’ performance in Miami is assessed more nuancedly. The team plans major updates only for the upcoming race in Canada, while McLaren has also not yet completed its development work. Accordingly, it is expected that the balance of power will continue to shift over the course of the season.
Alpine establishes itself in the midfield as “Best of the Rest”
In the midfield, Alpine confirms its upward trend. Franco Colapinto achieved his best qualifying result so far with eighth place on the grid, underlining the team’s progress.
Pierre Gasly scored points again and prevailed, among others, against the second Red Bull of Isack Hadjar. After a difficult start with the new Mercedes customer engines, the team’s long-term development strategy seems to be paying off.
Major problems persist at several teams
Fewer improvements are still visible at several other teams. Audi struggles with the reliability of its power units, while Aston Martin and Honda continue to fall significantly short of expectations.
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Williams continues to be the tail-ender in the rear midfield with its overweight vehicle. Overall, it is evident that individual updates bring some movement to the field, but fundamental problems remain.
Sprint format proves itself under weather pressure in Miami
Another topic was the sprint format itself. In view of the thunderstorms announced for Sunday, the practical benefits of the format became apparent once again.
The sprint allowed race action to take place on Saturday, while a possible race cancellation on Sunday due to strict weather regulations in Florida remains a possibility. Events must be immediately interrupted there as soon as lightning is detected within an eight-mile radius.
Motorsport mourns Alex Zanardi
Alongside the sporting events, motorsport was also marked by remembrance of Alex Zanardi. A minute of silence was held before the sprint after the former driver passed away at the age of 59.
Zanardi was regarded as a symbol of willpower and perseverance after his serious accident in 2001, his later return to motorsport, and his successes in parasport. Drivers, teams, and officials honored him with numerous tributes, including special stickers on the cars.
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