Leclerc fastest in upgraded Ferrari as Mercedes hit trouble before Sprint Qualifying

Charles Leclerc was fastest in Miami Grand Prix Practice in a heavily-upgraded Ferrari as both Mercedes drivers suffered problems on Formula 1's return.

Leclerc set two lap times quick enough to top the only practice session to beat Red Bull's Max Verstappen by 0.297s, with the early indications suggesting Mercedes no longer have the outright fastest car going into Sprint Qualifying at 9.30pm later on Friday, live on Sky Sports F1.

Oscar Piastri was third but his McLaren team-mate Lando Norris appeared to be more competitive and would have been close to Leclerc without traffic and a near-miss with Williams' Alex Albon.

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Lewis Hamilton was 0.467s adrift of Leclerc and trailed his Ferrari team-mate throughout the 90-minute practice session - a continuation of the last F1 race weekend in Japan at the end of March.

Mercedes have won the opening three Grands Prix and are unbeaten in competitive sessions this year, but have brought the fewest amount of upgrades of the top teams.

The Silver Arrows only have a revised front corner and new tailpipe compared to the new floors on the McLarens, Red Bulls and Ferraris.

But, Mercedes will be most concerned by power unit problems that plagued George Russell and Kimi Antonelli's running during practice.

Russell noticed a strange noise "like a steam train" while Antonelli did not complete a run on the soft tyres towards the end of the session due to a power unit issue.

Antonelli leads Russell by nine points in the Drivers' Championship but the two Mercedes may not have everything their own way this weekend in Miami.

Sky Sports F1's Miami GP schedule

Friday May 1
7.25pm: F2 Qualifying
8.10pm: Team Bosses' Press Conference
8.40pm: Miami GP Sprint Qualifying (session starts at 9.30pm)

Saturday May 2
2.55pm: F2 Sprint
4pm: Miami GP Sprint build-up
5pm: MIAMI GP SPRINT
6.30pm: Ted's Sprint Notebook
8pm: Miami GP Qualifying build-up*
9pm: MIAMI GP QUALIFYING*
11pm: Ted's Qualifying Notebook*

Sunday May 3
5.25pm: F2 Feature Race
7pm: Miami GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
9pm: THE MIAMI GRAND PRIX*
11pm: Miami GP reaction: Chequered Flag*
12am: Ted's Notebook*

*Also on Sky Sports Main Event

Formula 1 is in Miami for a Sprint weekend as the 2026 season resumes, watch live on Sky Sports F1 with Sunday's Grand Prix at 9pm. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime