Ferrari Had Miami Pace, But The Result Still Leaves Questions

By Lavesh Pillay

Ferrari’s Miami weekend was not short of promise. That is what makes it so frustrating.

Charles Leclerc looked capable of fighting near the front, Lewis Hamilton came away with points, and Ferrari had moments where the car looked genuinely competitive. But by the end of the Grand Prix, the result still felt like another missed opportunity.

For Ferrari, Miami was not a disaster. It was something more familiar: a weekend where the pace was there, but the final execution did not quite match it.

Ferrari’s Miami Pace Was Real

The encouraging part for Ferrari is that the car did not look lost.

Leclerc was in the lead fight early, and Ferrari had enough speed to be part of the conversation with Mercedes, McLaren and Red Bull. That is important because in a development race, the worst sign is not bad execution — it is no pace at all.

Ferrari had pace.

The problem is that pace alone does not deliver points, podiums or pressure.

Leclerc’s Weekend Became A Missed Opportunity

Leclerc’s race had the ingredients of a strong result. He was involved at the front, looked competitive, and had a chance to leave Miami with a result that would have made Ferrari’s weekend look much better.

Instead, the final laps changed the tone.

Piastri took the final podium place, Leclerc spun, and a post-race 20-second penalty dropped him to eighth. That turned what could have been a useful result into another frustrating Ferrari talking point.

The issue is not simply that Leclerc made a mistake. It is that Ferrari weekends too often feel like they are balancing on a knife edge.

Hamilton Still Needs A Breakthrough Ferrari Weekend

Hamilton’s sixth place was useful, but it was not the kind of result that changes the mood.

He is still adapting to Ferrari, and Miami was another weekend where there were points on the table, but not the full statement result many fans are waiting for.

That does not mean panic is needed. It is still early in the season. But Ferrari need Hamilton closer to the sharp end if they want to turn themselves into a real threat across the year.

A team cannot fight Mercedes and McLaren consistently with only flashes from one side of the garage.

Ferrari’s Problem Is Not Just Speed

The danger for Ferrari is that “we had pace” can become a frustrating phrase.

It is positive, but it is not enough.

The strongest teams turn pace into results. They manage tyres, strategy, penalties, pressure and race execution. Ferrari are showing signs that the car can be competitive, but Miami was another reminder that they still need the full weekend to come together.

That is the difference between being fast and being a contender.

What Comes Next For Ferrari?

Ferrari should not leave Miami hopeless. There was enough performance to work with.

But they should leave Miami slightly annoyed. The opportunity was there, and they did not fully take it.

The next phase of the season now becomes important. If Ferrari can clean up the execution, they can still become a major player in the 2026 development race. If not, Miami may be remembered as another weekend where the car promised more than the result delivered.

For Ferrari, the question is not whether there is potential.

The question is how long they can afford to keep leaving it on the table.

Read more

Did Red Bull Finally Find A Way Back Into The 2026 Fight In Miami? 11 May 2026 McLaren Miami Upgrade Looks Like A Real Warning To Mercedes 9 May 2026 What Miami Told Us About The 2026 F1 Development Race 8 May 2026