McLaren, engine pole and developments: Ferrari grows, but wastes

For the first time this year it won’t be a Mercedes that will start in front of everyone. In its place, however, there will be another Brixworth engine, the McLaren, reinvigorated by progress in energy management and updates expected for four months. Antonelli saves a Mercedes in the throes of various difficulties, which Ferrari does not take advantage of. The evolved SF-26 shows interesting potential, which the team, however, fails to exploit in the most important moment. Here is McLaren Lando Norris back in pole position, confirming his harmony with the Miami track. The world champion finally finds confidence in the MCL40, more stable and predictable thanks to the extra aerodynamic load found with the many developments. McLaren’s leap forward is not just a question of the number of updates, but also of their effectiveness, closely linked to the time they remained in the pipeline. The Papaya lineup was the last to have not yet brought anything new after the presentation, now reaping the fruits of the four months spent in the wind tunnel. The first pole position of the season is also a sign of progress in exploiting the Mercedes unit. “I believe we have made up for that delay and we should have all the necessary tools to extract the maximum from the power unit,” announced Andrea Stella less than ten days ago. The team gathered the information they were missing at the beginning of the year, learning more about the Brixworth unit and how to make it work to get the most out of energy management. It’s only Friday, but for McLaren it’s also one of those days that can change the perspective on the season. Mercedes absent Andrea Kimi Antonelli legitimizes the lead in the world championship, harpooning a front row that saves a struggling Mercedes. The Italian authored an excellent lap, taking advantage of the maximum evolution of the asphalt guaranteed by being the last to get on the track, unlike Russell, who was the first to launch. The question on everyone’s lips, however, is why Mercedes is no longer in front. The impression is that Toto Wolff’s team has something to regret, lacking the optimal set-up, but it is not the only reason. Once again, for example, the Silver Arrows suffer from a few too many technical problems during free practice, compromising their preparation for qualifying. Furthermore, in Miami, Mercedes is the only top team with practically no new features, which are instead scheduled for Canada. The comparison with the competition shows how powerful the updates are on these still very immature machines, reiterating that development will be crucial this season. However, it may not just be an aerodynamic issue, given that the Brackley team was the most advanced in energy management strategies, an art that their opponents are now also learning to master. Finally, there is the topic of weather. With over 50°C on the asphalt, Miami is the hottest qualifying since the beginning of the year, with 20°C more than the March events. Russell complains about the tires overheating, fueling fears for Mercedes that the W17 may have inherited a certain intolerance to high temperatures from its progenitors, which would be a problem ahead of the European summer. Hector Vivas – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images Ferrari grows, but does not materialize There is a certain regret at Ferrari, always in the top positions, only to then waste everything. For the umpteenth time, the Cavallino fails to make the final leap, gaining just 1 tenth between the second and third qualifying rounds, much less than what the evolution of the track and the switch to soft tires should guarantee. “Today we struggled with the tires,” observes Leclerc, exposing a critical issue that is perhaps also responsible for his driving inaccuracies in the second sector. While the execution continues to be reviewable, the developments instead reward the work done in Maranello. The SF-26 confirms excellent aerodynamic downforce qualities on the bends of the first sector, continuing to accumulate delays on the straight, which will remain until the updated engine arrives. In the meantime, Ferrari will have to maximize the good package it already has at its disposal, aiming for a better result in Saturday’s qualifying. Starting from the front will be a priority, given that the race to Turn 1 is the shortest since the beginning of the year, just 170 m long, limiting the advantage that the Reds have at the start. Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images Red Bull is also growing, equipped with updates well received by Max Verstappen, who just a month ago defined the RB22 as undriveable. The times in the first sector show a certain lack of aerodynamic load, but the path taken seems to be the right one. The credit also goes to some solutions taken from Ferrari, such as the inverted mobile wing or the blocked exhaust terminal, validating Maranello’s ideas. The show also improves. The sprint qualification also offers initial feedback on the package of changes to the technical regulations. Even without completely eliminating superclipping, an impossible task with these power units, the show is generally more pleasant. The credit also goes to the track, which is decidedly less critical than Melbourne and Suzuka from an energy management point of view. The pre-event notes also provide important help, with the FIA’s decision to make the use of the electric motor optional in practically all corners. For those who drive, the possibility of pushing harder finally opens up, without having to compromise too much on the trajectories and the dosage of the accelerator based on energy consumption. All this highlights the qualities of the drivers, as well as the cars, crowning Lando Norris’ McLaren for the moment.

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News
2026-05-02 08:56:00