In the 2026 F1 Miami GP's extended 90-minute practice session, Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli and George Russell led long-run averages on heavy fuel, simulating race pace. Ferrari and Red Bull showed improvements, narrowing the gap to the leaders ahead of the sprint weekend.
The Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix's sole practice session, stretched to 90 minutes for sprint weekend prep and 2026 regulation insights, yielded key long-run data on heavy fuel loads. As detailed in our single-lap pace coverage, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc topped outright times despite Mercedes' underlying strength in race simulations.
Mercedes stood out with championship leader Kimi Antonelli fastest at average lap times just 0.03s/lap ahead of teammate George Russell after adjustments for stint lengths and tyre compounds—clearly ahead post five-week break and rule tweaks.
Ferrari trailed by 0.33s/lap (Leclerc), a gain of ~0.20s from their 0.53s season average, strong in corners but weaker on straights.
McLaren placed third at 0.87s off Mercedes (worse than 0.82s season avg), good in fast corners, poor on straights.
Red Bull advanced with seven RB22 updates; Max Verstappen 0.88s slower—a 0.38s improvement from 1.26s prior deficit—topping speeds at 333kph but downforce-limited in corners. Teammate Isack Hadjar was 2s/lap off.
Midfield: Alpine's Franco Colapinto +1.32s, Haas' Esteban Ocon +1.59s and Oliver Bearman +1.86s, Williams' Carlos Sainz +1.51s, Audi's Nico Hulkenberg +1.85s. Aston Martin skipped long runs; Racing Bulls and Cadillac lagged.
Red Bull saved medium tyres; Miami's low wear suggests one-stop dry strategies.
