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Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix 2026 Practice Session


THIS IS A LIVE BLOG AND WILL BE CONTINUALLY UPDATED THROUGHOUT THE DAY

Hi I'm Admin here with you for the whole weekend. I'll start of this blog live for today. And move onto another blog for each day going forward. If you're a reader, please join in! Add your own bits to the blogs.

Welcome back to Formula 1 Grand Prix World Championship Racing 2026 - Miami Circuit!​

A 6 Week Break Due to Donald Trumps War Attack on Iran​


The 2026 Formula 1 season has felt like a full‑on reset, and nowhere is that clearer than under the engine cover. This year’s cars run on the most radical power units F1 has ever produced, with a straight 50‑50 split between the internal combustion engine and electric power. On paper, it sounds futuristic and thrilling. In practice, the first few races showed just how tough that balance is to get right. The removal of the old MGU‑H has made energy recovery harder, batteries emptier, and drivers more aware than ever of what’s happening beneath their right foot. Early in the season, fans could see cars lifting earlier, coasting deeper into corners, and sometimes looking strangely slow on what should have been flat‑out laps. It sparked debate everywhere — was this the future of F1, or had the spectacle gone too far in the name of efficiency?


Lift and Coast situation should be ironed out somewhat, but not all of it - there will be more power changes to come in future races!​

That frustration came to a head with the now‑infamous lift‑and‑coast and “super clipping” conversations. Drivers openly admitted they couldn’t push the way they wanted, especially in qualifying, where going slower into corners somehow led to faster lap times. It didn’t just look odd — it felt wrong. The FIA listened, and Miami is the first race where fans should actually see a difference. Rules have been tweaked so cars can deploy more electrical power while harvesting less during qualifying, meaning drivers can stay flat for longer and brake harder like we’re used to. In simple terms: fewer awkward coasting phases, more commitment, and hopefully more confidence when attacking corners. It’s not a rollback of the new era — it’s more like the rulebook learning how drivers actually race in the real world.

If the engines tell one story, the cars arriving in Miami tell another: this is a full‑blown development arms race. Thanks to a rare five‑week break in the calendar, teams have turned up in Florida with upgrade lists that look more like mid‑season overhauls. Ferrari has gone biggest of all, changing huge parts of the car from front wing to diffuser in a clear attempt to close the gap to Mercedes. McLaren has done what McLaren does best in Miami — roll out what’s effectively a new version of the car, including major floor and aero changes aimed at unlocking performance across a wider range of conditions. Red Bull, stung by not starting the season on top, has reworked key elements of its sidepods, floors and wings in a determined attempt to fight back.

Mid Season Upgrades Have Come Forward! Or at least most have, Mercedes seem to be bringing their upgrades in another 6 weeks time when the normal summer break should be, says George Russel of Mercedes​

And it isn’t just the big three throwing punches. Williams, Haas and Racing Bulls have all brought meaningful updates as they chase points in what’s become a brutally tight midfield. Alpine continues to push aggressively, Cadillac is rolling out its first major upgrade package on home soil, and even Mercedes — already the benchmark — has quietly refined key areas to protect its early advantage. Only Aston Martin arrives without declared updates, which in itself will be fascinating to watch. Add in revised engine behaviour, one extended practice session, and sprint‑race chaos, and Miami suddenly feels like the real beginning of the 2026 season. New rules, new cars, and a grid that looks ready to reshuffle — couldn’t ask for much more from a race weekend.

180-Degree Flip Wing Copied and even IMPROVED UPON Already by Red Bull Racing (will bring videos of this in action)​

And Red Bull have kept it very quiet but have developed and deployed for Practice 1 (FP1) a 180 degree flip rear wing that appears to be more capable than the Ferrari of the last couple of practice sessions where we saw it some 6 weeks ago. Could Red Bull have really developed one in 6 weeks?!?! Maybe!

Many seem to have the tiny rear wing for the exhaust, also copying Ferrari who did it first, then Williams, then Red Bull in the exhaust wing case.

More to come.


Quotes from the Drivers about the Power Unit Changes in Formula 1 Miami​

George Russel of Mercedes: With these changes made to the cars it should make it more natural to watch and to drive, and we just need to keep on.

Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin: Personal Opinion, maybe we need more [changes] or we have not enough [changes].

Many commentators who seem to be a lot closer to the discussions than you'd think (being Sky I guess) seem to know some 1st hand information and that is 'that there will be more changes this is just a single step in a free flow of improvements to a car that is brand new and may need tweaks moving forward.
 
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Love this! Well done mate. The changes power wise aren't that much but many have had brand new floor designs (Ferrari and Red Bull at least I believe). Some have just 6 or 7 upgrades, some have 12! Trying to find out who it was who said that now.
 
Thanks mate. I think Mercedes brought just the 6 for now. Ferrari may have been the ones with 12. McLaren had 7 or 8. No 180 wing lol I wonder if they are trying to make one now? And then what if the fronts do something also! Seems they're not limited on what they can do to reduce drag down those "Straight Line" activation points are. So 2 or 3 per track I think. Not all matching the old DRS enabled markers either. Need a thread on that alone ha. You sure you can't help?
 
Love this! Well done mate. The changes power wise aren't that much but many have had brand new floor designs (Ferrari and Red Bull at least I believe). Some have just 6 or 7 upgrades, some have 12! Trying to find out who it was who said that now.
Upgrades:

Will find more over the weekend and add them.
 
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