At the Miami Grand Prix on May 3, 2026, Lewis Hamilton expressed dissatisfaction with his qualifying position, highlighting ongoing struggles with Ferrari’s simulator and car setup. He qualified sixth, a slight improvement from previous sessions but still not where he wants to be.
During qualifying, Hamilton managed to reduce his deficit to pole position to just five tenths of a second. This was an improvement from earlier sessions where he had struggled significantly more. Yet, despite this progress, he stated, “I don’t feel comfortable in P6; it is not where I want to be, so naturally, I am not happy.”
Hamilton has been vocal about his issues with Ferrari’s simulator. He criticized it for sending him in the wrong direction regarding car setup. This has led him to consider cutting out simulator running altogether—an unusual move for a driver at this level.
Ferrari did bring 11 upgrades to the Miami Grand Prix weekend, hoping to improve performance across the board. However, it seems those changes haven’t fully translated into the comfort and speed Hamilton seeks in his SF-26.
As he looks ahead to race day, Hamilton remains hopeful for better performance under potentially wet conditions. “I’m expecting tomorrow the car to feel a lot better, but it’s going to be wet,” he noted. The rain could alter race dynamics significantly and might provide him with an opportunity to capitalize on others’ mistakes.
This sequence of events matters not just for Hamilton but also for Ferrari as they navigate a challenging season. The team needs strong performances from their star driver to stay competitive in the championship race.