Miami’s longer free practice session gave the sprint weekend a much clearer hierarchy. Mercedes still looks strongest on race pace, while Red Bull made a noticeable step forward after using the break to bring updates to the car.
Long runs finally gave the field something real to work with
The sprint format gave teams a rare chance to gather meaningful data. With 90 minutes of free practice, everyone could run longer stints, carry more fuel, and work in conditions much closer to race trim. The difference was obvious: this was no longer about a single flying lap, but about the kind of pace that shows up when the tires heat up, the fuel load grows, and the rear wing starts doing its real work.
On that front, Mercedes moved back to the top. Qualifying pace was less convincing, including for George Russell, but the team looked better over extended stints where tire management and balance matter most.
Red Bull, meanwhile, did not sit still during the pause. The team used the time to evolve the car, and the result was a clear improvement in its long-run pace. It is not enough to erase Mercedes’ edge, but it does tighten the fight heading deeper into the weekend.
For readers tracking the competitive picture, the takeaway is simple: Mercedes still has the better race setup in Miami, while Red Bull is close enough now to keep the pressure on. That leaves qualifying as the next test, especially for teams that were stronger over one lap than over a full stint.
