Miami marks the “real start” of the 2026 title fight
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur was the first to describe Miami as the beginning of a new phase in the championship, framing the opening race in Australia as only an early snapshot of the pecking order rather than a final judgement on performance. He cautioned that while Ferrari’s start to 2026 showed promise, early results would mean little without sustained development throughout the season, especially as teams continue adapting to the new technical regulations.
4 Key Highlights
- Fred Vasseur calls Miami the true start of the 2026 championship, urging caution over early-season results
- Teams view Miami as the first major upgrade battleground after calendar disruptions reshuffle development plans
- McLaren and Mercedes emerge as early reference points, with McLaren targeting a full car upgrade to close the gap
- Regulation tweaks to power unit usage add extra complexity, making Miami a key test of both upgrades and adaptability
Development race expected to explode in Miami
With Bahrain and Saudi Arabia cancelled, most teams are now treating Miami as the first major upgrade checkpoint of the season, where the true development race is expected to begin. Vasseur’s warning is echoed across the paddock, with performance gains likely to depend on which teams can bring effective upgrades and evolve their cars consistently across the year.
McLaren and Mercedes set early benchmark battle
Mercedes have started the season in dominant form, winning comfortably across the opening rounds, while McLaren have shown encouraging progress as they adapt to their customer power unit package. Oscar Piastri’s performance suggested McLaren are closing the gap, but Mercedes’ early advantage still remains significant despite increasing pressure from rivals.
Upgrade war and regulation changes reshape Miami weekend
McLaren plan to introduce a “completely new car” concept across Miami and Canada, while other midfield teams like Racing Bulls and Red Bull are also preparing major upgrade packages to close performance gaps. On top of this, recent power unit regulation tweaks have forced teams to reassess energy deployment strategies, adding another layer of complexity to an already crucial development weekend in Miami.
