The F1 Show: Ferrari’s prospects assessed after disappointing Miami GP performance with major upgrade package | F1 News

Following a disappointing weekend for Ferrari at the Miami Grand Prix, Karun Chandhok and David Croft discuss on The F1 Show podcast whether the Italian team’s 2026 campaign is in trouble.

There were high expectations for Ferrari as they brought a major upgrade package to Miami after F1’s enforced five-week break, but the results were underwhelming.

McLaren’s upgrade package had a more significant impact as the reigning constructors’ champions dominated the Sprint events, before Kimi Antonelli won the Grand Prix for Mercedes, an ominous outcome given the Silver Arrows have delayed bringing their own major raft of car changes until the next round in Canada.

There were extenuating circumstances behind Lewis Hamilton finishing sixth and Charles Leclerc eighth in the race, but Ferrari’s overall display has heightened doubts over their ability to compete for titles this season.

Sky Sports F1’s Chandhok said: “If that is the big Ferrari upgrade for this early part of the season, then McLaren and Mercedes won’t be worried.

“Miami should have been the weekend which propelled them in front. I feel like they’ve slipped behind.

“For me, there should be a little bit of concern at Maranello and Ferrari.”

Leclerc was on course to finish fourth before he spun and clipped a barrier on the penultimate lap, while Hamilton drove almost the entire race with damage caused by an early collision with Alpine’s Franco Colapinto.

While it’s understood that McLaren are bringing another set of upgrades to Canada, it’s unclear whether Ferrari plan to do similar or will have to wait until later in the season for another significant package.

Chandhok continued: “They’ve got to think about whether there’s further performance to be optimised or unlocked from this update because otherwise they will get dropped behind when McLaren add the bits that we believe are coming to Canada and Mercedes get their big upgrade.”

Is small turbo Ferrari’s issue?

Ferrari’s biggest strength during the opening rounds has been their fast starts, with Leclerc producing another superb getaway to take the lead in Miami.

Hamilton was also in position to gain several places at the start before he was severely hampered by Max Verstappen spinning in front of him.

Ferrari’s fast getaways are understood to be aided by the turbo part of their power unit, which is understood to be smaller than the ones produced by rival manufacturers Mercedes and Red Bull.

While the power unit clearly helping Ferrari at the start, Hamilton has said on several occasions that a lack of power compared to their rivals is making life difficult over the full course of a race.

Sky Sports F1’s David Croft said: “I don’t know what it is with Ferrari. Is it that small turbo that’s great in the opening laps, but as the fuel kind of burns off with the other cars, then they don’t have that advantage from that smaller turbo, and it becomes a disadvantage for them?

“Would Lewis Hamilton have featured more without losing all that downforce early on?

“I hope on the drawing board somewhere at Maranello, they’ve got another upgrade package that works a little bit better, otherwise they are in trouble.”

Formula 1 next heads to Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix and another Sprint weekend. Watch live on Sky Sports F1 on May 22-24. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime