WET-WEATHER MASTERCLASS: WHY LEWIS HAMILTON’S 297-LAP FIORANO TEST IS VITAL FOR MIAMI
Lewis Hamilton hopes his extensive wet-weather testing at Fiorano gives Ferrari the winning edge as thunderstorms loom over Miami.
Lewis Hamilton jokes that he’s done more wet-weather testing lately than at any point in his career. Honestly, he hopes all that rain experience pays off this Sunday at the Miami Grand Prix, especially since the forecast is threatening thunderstorms.
Over the break, Ferrari put Hamilton through two days of wet testing at Fiorano. He says the SF-26 actually feels pretty decent in the rain. That could be good news, since these new F1 cars are still a bit of a mystery to most drivers when it comes to wet conditions.
Ferrari didn’t sit still during April. They squeezed in a Monza filming day where fans spotted their rotating rear wing in action, a feature last seen in China. There’s a buzz about a sizable upgrade package for Miami, too.
Hamilton was blunt about Monza: “I didn’t learn anything there; it’s just a filming day.” But his time at Fiorano was more valuable, since he got to test Pirelli’s wet tyres and actually talk with them about improving grip. Most drivers complain about tyres and grip, looking for any edge they can get, and Hamilton’s definitely got to know the wet tyres better lately.
He’s curious if all this wet-weather testing will actually give him an advantage in Miami, but in his words, "I don’t know. I’ve probably done more wet testing than ever. Barcelona was a whole day in the rain, honestly – not fun – and then those two days at Fiorano two weeks ago.” Still, he points out, F1 used to have some amazing rain races, and the SF-26 feels alright when it’s wet.
Hamilton’s teammate, Charles Leclerc, has his own take on these cars in the rain. He says you can actually go “much faster” at the end of straights when it's wet, mostly because you don’t need as much battery recharging. It’s a weird quirk; sometimes you’re barrelling down in the wet faster than you would in dry conditions. The corners feel good; the car’s light and responsive. But on the straights, closing speeds can get hairy, especially if drivers use different power unit strategies and visibility drops to nearly nothing.
Leclerc explains that in the rain, “We’re really just passengers. It’s not about bravery; you stay flat out and hope no one in front is slower than you. That used to be an easy assumption in previous years. Not anymore. We'll go all out and see what happens, but honestly, it’s not a great feeling. We still need to find a fix for that.”
SERGIO PEREZ BREAKS SILENCE ON CADILLAC’S FIRST FOUR RACES OF 2026 F1 SEASON
Discover why Sergio Perez is confident in Cadillac’s 2026 path despite urgent needs for better pace and reliability fixes.
Sergio Perez didn’t waste time sharing his thoughts on Cadillac after the first four races of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Cadillac shows up in 2026 as F1’s newest team, but honestly, not a lot of people expected fireworks right away. With veterans like Valtteri Bottas and Perez behind the wheel, the team’s start has been a mix, some moments full of promise, others derailed by reliability issues.
Still, Cadillac isn’t just stuck at the back. Lately, they’ve been right there fighting with Aston Martin and even managed to split them in Miami, which turned a few heads.
Perez knows the team is at risk of falling behind in this crazy-fast development race, though. “We still have work to do, but I’m confident we’re on the right path,” he told reporters, including Motorsport Week.
He added, “Sometimes, once tyre degradation sets in, we can hang with the midfield, but they always seem to find another gear. There’s a long way to go this season, but we’re in a rush to find more pace. We know Aston will get stronger, and we don’t want to be left behind.”
Racing Aston Martin has actually brought Perez some enjoyment. He especially likes battling Fernando Alonso, calling those fights fair and satisfying. Still, he pointed out a weak spot: “We’re having fun with them. Racing Fernando is always great because he’s so fair. But we struggled with tyre degradation; we burnt through them too quickly. We picked the hard compound, but honestly, looking back, I should’ve gone with the soft.”
He said there’s plenty to analyse, and really, the key is getting a better grip on their car as they look ahead to Canada. “We don’t have much time, but in the short term, we need to fix the degradation. We have some ideas, but putting them together is our biggest challenge in the next few weeks.”
Cadillac may be the new kid on the block and still finding its feet, but it’s already starting to make an impact. The road out of the lower ranks won’t be easy, but they’re moving in the right direction.
HOW KIMI ANTONELLI’S THREE-RACE WIN STREAK IS REDEFINING THE MERCEDES TEAM HIERARCHY
With a 43-second gap in Miami, Antonelli proves he’s ready to lead the World Championship. Can Russell bounce back in Canada?
David Coulthard, the former Formula 1 driver, recently pointed out that Kimi Antonelli might be on track to overtake George Russell as Mercedes’ team leader.
Antonelli has been on an impressive run, clinching victories in the last three races and pulling ahead by 20 points over his main competitor and teammate, Russell.
At the Miami race, the young Italian once again outperformed his more seasoned teammate, with Russell managing only fourth place, trailing by 43 seconds.
Coulthard acknowledged Antonelli’s rapid rise in 2026, which is just his second season in F1. He highlighted Antonelli’s strengths and suggested that the Italian is, in many ways, now leading the Mercedes team.
“He’s come of age,” Coulthard said during the Up To Speed podcast.
Despite being relatively new, Antonelli has shown resilience, dealing not only with the pressure from a driver like Lando ready to strike but also with technical glitches like inconsistent paddle shifts. Coulthard mentioned how Antonelli kept his cool even when his engineer, Bono, was trying to help troubleshoot the issue in a tense moment.
“I think he’s earned the right to lead the World Championship,” Coulthard added, noting that this situation probably feels uncomfortable for George. Still, the expectations now lean heavily toward Antonelli leading the team, especially based on recent results.
Coulthard also pointed out that Russell has the experience and skill to reclaim his position as the team’s lead driver, but emphasised that only one can come out on top; someone must finish first and the other second.
The rivalry between them might start opening doors for other teams. Coulthard noted that improvements from McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull were already noticeable, especially in Miami.
“Winning in the best car isn’t always straightforward. Many have tried and struggled,” he said.
For Russell, who is feeling the weight of this momentum shift, the upcoming race in Canada will be crucial if he wants to close the gap and halt Antonelli’s winning streak.
