Charles Leclerc topped Miami GP practice in a heavily‑upgraded Ferrari, recording two lap times that left teammate Max Verstappen 0.297 seconds slower. Mercedes drivers suffered power‑unit issues, hinting the Silver Arrows may lose their early dominance as the season resumes ahead of Sprint Qualifying and the race weekend.

Leclerc’s pace also pushed Oscar Piastri to third, while Lando Norris appeared more competitive, narrowly missing a run without traffic and a close call with Alex Albon. Lewis Hamilton trailed by 0.467 seconds, echoing the tight battle seen in Japan last March for the championship standings as the season unfolds.

Ferrari’s 11 new parts, including a fresh floor and suspension, delivered extra downforce that felt decisive on the track’s tight corners. McLaren and Red Bull also returned with near‑new cars, tightening the grid and raising questions over Mercedes’ limited upgrade package for the championship standings and the race weekend.

With Mercedes the only team to bring a single front‑corner tweak and new tailpipe, their power‑unit glitch—reported as a “steam engine” noise—could cost them the Sprint Qualifying lead. The session signals a shift in the early‑season hierarchy, setting the stage for a tighter championship contest in the race weekend at.