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Formula 1 has returned to action at the Miami International Autodrome following a five-week hiatus, and the paddock has not been idle. According to the official FIA disclosures document, every team on the grid—with the notable exception of Aston Martin—has delivered at least one new development for the Miami Grand Prix.
Leading the development race is Ferrari, bringing a staggering eleven updates to the SF-26 as they look to close the gap to championship leaders Mercedes.
Substantial changes were expected from the Scuderia, and they have delivered. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have been treated to a swathe of new parts aimed at overhauling the top of the F1 pecking order. Ferrari is positive that these Miami Grand Prix upgrades will change the script for their campaign.
The mammoth eleven-part package is headlined by a reprofiled front floor and floor edge, alongside a heavily revised rear section. The SF-26 now features a new diffuser, a reprofiled front suspension, a new rear suspension, and an updated beam wing. Furthermore, Ferrari has introduced changes to the rear wing—including the endplate—and the rear tail of the car. Further forward, a new front corner and a revised front wing endplate complete the comprehensive overhaul.
Not to be outdone, Red Bull has arrived with one of the most obviously refined packages of the weekend. The Laurent Mekies-led squad has introduced seven upgrades to the RB22, including considerable changes to the sidepods.
The team has brought a new front wing, front corner, engine cover, floor, and rear corner. Crucially, Red Bull's radical Miami upgrades also feature their own answer to Ferrari's inventive "Macarena" rear wing, which is expected to be evaluated during free practice. In addition to the aerodynamic tweaks, the team is believed to have shaved around 6kg off the car's weight.
McLaren, meanwhile, teased a brand new MCL40 ahead of the Floridian round. The constructors' champions have ported seven updates to their challenger, featuring a comprehensive reworking of the bodywork. A revised front corner, engine cover, and sidepods are joined by a new floor body, rear corner, and rear wing—all aimed at increasing load and improving flow conditioning. To combat the oppressive Miami heat and humidity, the Woking-based squad has also introduced circuit-specific cooling louvres.
While their rivals have brought sweeping changes, championship leaders Mercedes have opted for a relatively modest approach in Miami, bringing just two upgrades to the W17. George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will utilize repositioned tailpipes—designed to reduce drag and improve downforce response—alongside a new front corner. More substantial developments are expected from the team at the subsequent round in Canada.
The midfield and lower order have also been busy during the spring break:
With such a vast array of new components up and down the pit lane, the Miami Grand Prix promises to be a crucial test of which teams have maximized their time away from the track.
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.
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